Before it has taken delivery of even the first aircraft, UK holiday airline Jet2 continues to grow its order for Airbus A320neo family aircraft. Jet2 announced on October 18 that it has ordered 35 A320neo’s, which are in addition to 63 A321neo’s ordered since August 2021. Jet2 adds A320neo to its Airbus neo portfolio.
Jet2 made headlines last year when it said that it would switch from an almost all-Boeing 737 fleet to the Airbus A321neo (main picture). It placed an initial order for 36 aircraft plus 24 purchase rights for delivery between 2023 and 2029. Since then, the carrier has consistently exercised purchase options to bring the total number of the largest neo-version on firm order to 63.
In order “to meet the future anticipated growth of its Leisure Travel business and to refresh its existing aircraft fleet”, Jet2 says today that it will add the smaller A320neo to the fleet as well. It has signed a firm order for 35 aircraft and has options on another 36. Deliveries will span three years from 2029 through 2031. Jet2 plans to finance the aircraft partly from its own resources and partly through loans.
The latest order brings its total commitment to 98 aircraft, with another 48 options, which could see the fleet eventually grow to 146 Airbus neo’s. Jet2’s current fleet has 102 aircraft, including 77 Boeing 737-800s, seven -300s, eight 757-200s, eight A321ceo’s, and two A330-200s.
In a media statement, Jet2 CEO Philip Meeson says: “The order reflects our confidence that we have a much-loved product built on sector-leading Customer Service which we can continue to grow and these aircraft will ensure our Customers have a wonderfully comfortable and enjoyable experience as they travel with us for their well-deserved Real Package Holidays from Jet2holidays or scheduled holiday flights with Jet2.com.”
Jet2 Group reported a £-315.4 million net loss in the full year 2021/2022 that closed on March 31, compared to £-271.2 million in the previous year. The operating loss was £-323.9 million versus £-336.1 million.
