Low-cost carrier Vueling has reiterated that it will make a long-anticipated narrowbody order announcement by the end of the summer.
Chief executive officer Alex Cruz, speaking to analysts during a second quarter results call on 1 August, said: "Our project continues. We are in phase three of our evaluation."
"We are on track and we hope to make a decision after the summer, maybe in September or October, depending on the date of our board meeting."
The Barcelona-based airline has added 14 Airbus A320-family jets to its operation since the demise of Spanair earlier this year, taking its fleet to 55 A320s and three A319s. The majority of the new additions are on three-year operating leases.
Vueling will end the summer with a total fleet of 60 aircraft, but may need to renew its entire fleet beginning in 2015.
"We are pleased with data and proposals submitted by the three vendors [Airbus, Boeing and Bombardier] and we are still in the negotiation phase. It is an important project for Vueling," says Cruz.
In June chief financial officer Sonia Jerez told delegates at the Ascend London 2020 conference that production slots were not available before 2013.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
