A few orders closed out the week.
Flynas orders Airbus aircraft (Photo: Airbus)
With the crowds waning later in the week, Thursday and Friday were much quieter in airshow news. This was combined with immense amounts of rain on Thursday. As the airshow draws to a close, two major aircraft deals just managed to scrape the headlines in the aviation world.
Saudi Arabia’s second-largest airline, Flynas, has placed a monumental order with Airbus. The carrier announced on Thursday that it would be purchasing an additional 75 Airbus A320neos, and 15 Airbus A330neos. The Airbus A330neos are likely to replace those being wet-leased from Indonesian low-cost carrier Lionair. These are currently used to operate on the same routes as the A320neos, but with larger capacities.
The Jeddah-based airline also operates a small fleet of aging A330-300s, which could also be replaced by the incoming aircraft. The new A330neos are meant to have around 400 seats in a two-class configuration, something typical for a low-cost carrier.
Flynas’ 75 new A320neos add to its already existing fleet of 53. The new aircraft are likely to be very similar to the existing ones unless Flynas decides to roll out a cabin upgrade throughout the fleet.
To the carrier, the benefits of this order were clear, with their CEO, Banda Almohanna, claiming that the A320neo “provides exceptional operational performance and environmental benefits, allowing us to offer unique, low-cost travel experiences. Additionally, the A330 will enhance our long-haul capabilities with its advanced technology and efficiency while supporting our growth plans and Saudi Arabia’s pilgrim program.”
Avianca’s owner, Abra Group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to purchase five Airbus A350-900s. These are to allow Avianca to reach more international destinations, and increase the number of passengers which can fly with the airline.
At the moment, Avianca’s long-haul services are limited to Boeing 787-8s and a few leased Airbus A330ceos. This has resulted in Airbus A320neos, of which Avianca has plenty, often operating flights of lengths up to six hours. Therefore, the A350s should help to relieve the pressure on the high-demand routes, such as connecting Colombia to New York, Miami, and Los Angeles.
The MoU in the A350 essentially means that the buyer has expressed interest in an aircraft purchase, and is going to make a firm order soon. The difference between an MoU and a letter of intent (LoI) is that it is legally binding.
Abra Group is the owner of both Avianca and GOL, bringing them both under the same leadership. This allows for the group to become a South American superpower in the airline industry, and gives them a better chance against the giants such as LATAM and Azul.
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