Japan’s Peach Aviation takes delivery of its first A320

Peach Aviation, Japan’s first low-cost carrier, has taken delivery of its first A320 in Toulouse, France, through a leasing contract with GECAS last Friday. The Japanese carrier will lease 10 A320s.

Peach Aviation’s A320 aircraft seats 180 passengers in a single-class layout and is powered by CFM International engines.

“We are delighted to take delivery of our first brand-new Airbus A320”, Peach Aviation President Shinichi Inoue said during the ceremony. “With a complete new fleet of A320’s, we aim at establishing a new low-cost business model in Japan. The world’s standard single-aisle aircraft will enable us to offer attractive airfares in the competitive Japanese market”, he added.

“We are pleased to play a major role in the historical launch of Peach, the first Japan-based low-cost airline”, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers John Leahy said. “The A320 offers unmatched efficiency and reliability levels and is clearly the aircraft of choice for low-cost carriers around the world. This is the start of a long-term partnership, and we welcome Peach as our newest A320 operator.”

Peach Aviation was established by All Nippon Airways (ANA), First Eastern Investment Group (First Eastern) in Hong Kong and Innovation Network Corporation of Japan. The Osaka-based company will start operations from Kansai airport in March 2012, first on domestic routes, and then internationally across Asia.

As of today, more than 7,900 Airbus A320 Family aircraft have been sold to more than 340 customers and operators worldwide, making it the world’s best selling commercial jetliner ever. With proven reliability and extended servicing periods, the A320 Family has the lowest operating costs of any single-aisle aircraft. Uniquely, the A320 Family offers a containerized cargo system, which is compatible with the world wide standard wide-body system and facilitates quick turn-around times at airports.

AIRBUS