Air Europa today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Airbus for 40 A350-900 wide-body aircraft. The agreement, announced at the Dubai Air Show, illustrates the airline’s strategy for fleet replacement with the A350 as the backbone of the long-haul fleet.
Air Europa moves to Airbus from Boeing
“This order is a strategic milestone in Air Europa’s fleet development, accelerating its profitable growth by renewal of the current wide-body fleet,” said Juan Jose Hidalgo, President of Air Europa. “The A350-900 is a game-changer for key destinations in Latin America. It provides an exceptional cabin experience and the operational performance and economics needed to expand the airline’s network without compromise, delivering the highest standards in air travel.”
The carrier will utilize the aircraft in its trans-Atlantic operations to multiple Latin American destinations as well as flights to Miami in the United States. The size and fuel efficiency of the A350-900 are ideally suited to its international route network.
“We are proud to welcome Air Europa into the Airbus A350 family. This order is a strong endorsement of the A350 as the benchmark widebody platform for efficiency and passenger comfort in the long-haul market,” said Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business. “We are committed to supporting Air Europa’s ambitious growth strategy as they leverage the A350’s capabilities for their future long-haul operations.”
The Bottom Line
The switch from the Boeing 787 to the Airbus A350 is one of the first “conquests” in which a fleet of modern aircraft is being replaced by another contemporary in the wide-body segment. This is a significant order for Airbus.
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