The agreement reached between the airline and the European aircraft manufacturer also includes an option to purchase an additional 50 aircraft.
In line with its business plan that includes the operation of more than 200 mostly point-to-point routes and more than 130 aircraft by 2025, Avianca confirmed its commitment to order 88 new A320neo family aircraft from European manufacturer Airbus. The agreement also includes a purchase option for an additional 50 aircraft.
With the arrival of the 88 new A320neo aircraft, which will be gradually incorporated into the company's passenger fleet between 2025 and 2031, Avianca is committed to continuing offering its customers the highest quality flights, while optimizing its operations thanks to the efficiency and productivity of this aircraft.
Rohit Philip, Avianca's Chief Financial Officer, said: "This is great news for our company, our people and our customers, considering that the A320neo family is the most advanced single-aisle fleet in terms of efficiency, reliability and comfort. This order highlights that we continue to make the required investments to grow our network in line with our business plan”.
"We are happy that Avianca has confirmed its preference for A320neo aircraft. The A320neo incorporates the latest technologies including new generation engines, Skarklets and aerodynamics, which together deliver 20 percent in fuel savings and CO2 reduction compared to previous generation Airbus aircraft. With the widest single-aisle cabin in its class, passengers aboard the A320 enjoy more personal space, wider seats, and generous overhead compartments to store their luggage", said Arturo Barreira, Airbus President of Airbus Latin America and the Caribbean.
The A320neo fleet will have the new cabin configuration defined by Avianca for its A320 aircraft, offering its customers three types of seats: Premium, Plus and Economy. Currently, more than 90 A320 planes in Avianca's fleet are being reconfigured and 26 of them already have the new Plus and Economy seats. As of May, customers will be able to enjoy the Premium offer and by the end of 2022 the entire fleet will be completely reconfigured. In addition, the use of up to 20% less fuel and the reduction of up to 900 tons of CO2 per year per aircraft will contribute to the sustainability of Avianca's operations.
The 88 aircraft ordered by the company are in addition to the more than 110 that Avianca has in its passenger operation, the most complete in Colombia and one of the largest in Latin America with a network of 120 routes, more than 3,200 weekly flights and more than 500,000 seats per week connecting customers to more than 65 destinations in Colombia, Latin America and Europe.
