Low-cost carrier Virgin America will begin taking delivery of its Airbus A320neos during the first quarter of 2016 from Airbus' new final assembly facility in Mobile, Alabama.
The Burlingame, California-based carrier, which is the US launch customer of the A320neo with 30 of the type on order, is likely to take all of them from Mobile, the airline's chief executive David Cush tells Flightglobal.
"The first one should come in the first quarter of 2016," he says, adding that he is confident in Airbus meeting that schedule. "They know what they are doing."
Virgin America also has an order for 30 current engine option A320s, which was firmed up along with the A320neos in January 2011. It will start taking delivery of those aircraft in July 2013 and will accept about 10 aircraft a year, says Cush.
The A320neo is scheduled to enter into service in late 2015.
Airbus' final assembly line in Mobile will begin assembly in 2015, with deliveries starting in 2016.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
