quarta-feira, 23 de fevereiro de 2022

Kuwait Airways adjusts and increases Airbus-order


 

Kuwait Airways has announced it has reached an agreement with Airbus to adjust and slightly increase its orders. Originally, the airline ordered fifteen A320neos, eight A330-800s and five A350-900s. The A330-800s were ordered in October 2018 and were part of an earlier order adjustment, when it converted five A350-900s into the A330-800s.

Now, Kuwait Airways has done another update of its outstanding orders and has now ordered nine A320neos, six A321neos, three A321LRs, four A330-800s, seven A330-900s and two A350-900s. The careful reader already calculated that this is an increase of three aircraft in total. Most notable is the shift of four A330-800s and three A350-900s to seven A330-900s and the addition of the A321neo.

Of these aircraft ordered, the airline has already taken delivery of six A320neos and two A330-800s, leaving 23 aircraft to be still delivered, which is planned to be completed before the end of 2028.

The restructuring of its order book with Airbus is part of a plan to regain profitability by right-sizing its fleet as well as limiting captial expenditure. According to the CEO of Kuwait Airways, the new deal saves the airline 200 million USD and ensures the airline will be profitable again by 2026.

Photo by Airbus.

1st passenger A319neos delivered


 The first two passenger A319neo aircraft have been delivered. B-328A (10239) and B-328C (10288) were both delivered to China Southern Airlines and ferried from Hamburg-Finkenwerder to China. Both aircraft are equipped with CFM LEAP -1A engines and have a passenger cabin with 132 economy seats and four business seats. Airbus has already delivered four A319neo Corporate Jets.

The A319neo is the slowest selling variant of the Airbus A320neo-family. As of mid-February 2022, Airbus has only sold 63 pax versions of the A319neo and eight A319neo Corporate Jets. The two aircraft delivered today, are the only A319neos China Southern Airlines has ordered. Other airlines which have ordered the pax version of the A319neo are Spirit Airlines (31 aircraft on order) and Air Cote d’Ivoire (Two aircraft on order). 28 A319neos have been ordered by “unannounced commercial operators”
Scramble
Photo by Airbus