Mexican low-cost carrier Volaris has leased 16 new Airbus A320neo family aircraft, including its first larger A321neo.
The aircraft are split between 10 A320neos and six A321neos with deliveries from 2016 to 2018, according to the carrier. They will be equipped with Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines.
“These 16 aircraft together with the existing orders underpin the Volaris growth strategy by having a young, efficient and uniform fleet,” says Enrique Beltranena, chief executive of Volaris, in a statement. “Early delivery of next generation, fuel efficient Airbus A320neo and A321neo will allow us to maximise the use of airport slots in key markets and continue to further reduce our operating costs.”
Combined with its existing orderbook, Volaris’ A320 and A320neo deliveries net expiring leases include seven in 2014, four in 2015, seven in 2016, six in 2017, 10 in 2018, 10 in 2019 and 12 in 2020. It will take delivery of two A321neos in 2017 and four A321neos in 2018.
The airline will remove the Airbus A319 from its fleet by 2019. Its current schedule calls for two to leave the fleet in 2014, one in 2015, five in 2016, three in 2017, seven in 2018 and two in 2019.
Volaris will now have 86 aircraft in by 2020, which is up from 49 in 2014, according to its updated fleet plan.
The airline had planned for a fleet of 69 aircraft by 2020, its chief financial officer Fernando Suarez told to Flightglobal in November 2013.
Volaris has 20 A319s and 24 A320s in its fleet, Flightglobal’s Ascend Online database shows.
The carrier was not immediately available to comment.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
