FLEET - EasyJet to order 157 A320/1neo, retire A319s

EasyGroup Holdings has reached a tentative agreement with Airbus for 157 incremental A320neo Family aircraft which will allow the airline to complete its A319-100 phase-out and replace around half of the still in-service A320-200s.

The provisional agreement includes fifty-six A320-200Ns and 101 A321-200Ns with a further 100 purchase rights. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in fiscal 2029 (i.e. after October 1, 2028) and complete in fiscal 2034 (i.e. by September 30, 2034). The aircraft will be powered by CFM International LEAP-1A engines - the airline remains in talks with the manufacturer.

easyJet simultaneously converted 35 of its A320neo commitments into A321neo.

"Delivery slots for narrow-body aircraft with circa 200 seats are very limited until at least 2029 from both Airbus and Boeing. easyJet anticipates that this limitation will extend into 2030 and beyond within the next year. By placing an order now, easyJet ensures a supply of future delivery slots between FY29 and FY34 to retain its current scale through replacing aircraft leaving the fleet and this enables easyJet to execute its disciplined growth strategy," the airline said in a stock market filing.

easyJet emphasised the importance of the A321neo as an aircraft type allowing it to upgauge capacity and capture additional revenue on slot-constrained airports or longer, in-demand routes.

Once firmed, the new order will be incremental to an existing unfulfilled commitment for 158 A320neo Family aircraft, comprising - after the newly announced conversion - ninety A320neo and sixty-eight A321neo. easyJet UK (U2, London Luton) currently operates fifty-eight A319s, seventy-six A320-200s, thirty-seven A320neo, and ten A321neo, the ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows. Sister carrier easyJet Europe (EC, Vienna) operates a further thirty-seven A319s, seventy-six A320s, ten A320neo, and five A321neo, while easyJet Switzerland (DS, Geneva) operates twenty A320s and seven A320neo