Nile Air decides to buy nine Airbus A321 aircraft 14 November 2007
New Egyptian airline Nile Air has agreed to buy nine Airbus A321 aircraft. The privately owned regional carrier signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Airbus to base its future fleet on the A321 aircraft.
The Cairo-based start-up private airline will be Egypt’s second regular carrier after Egyptair and plans to serve Riyadh, Jeddah, Medina, Dammam, Kuwait, Dubai, Doha, and Bahrain with passenger, freight, and airmail services.
Dr. Nasser A. Al-Tayyar, Founder of Nile Air, said “operational economics and fleet capacity, volume and range are all critical to successful operations, and the A321 is the perfect solution to provide our required balance between volume, cost-efficiency and return on investment.”
“For any company wanting to start airline operations, the choice of aircraft is a critical decision. Nile Air has ambitious plans and we are delighted they have chosen the Airbus A321. The aircraft matches their needs for operational efficiency as well as passenger comfort”, said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer Customers.
The A320 Family, which includes the A318, A319, A320 and A321, is recognised as the benchmark single-aisle aircraft family. Each aircraft features fly by wire controls and all share a unique cockpit commonality across the range. Over 5,450 Airbus A320 Family have been sold and over 3200 delivered to some 200 operators worldwide, making it the worlds 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. In addition, the latest new cabin design saves on weight and offers the passenger a quieter and roomier experience as well as significantly larger overhead stowage lockers.
Uniquely, the A320 Family offers a containerised cargo system, which is compatible with the world wide standard wide-body system.
Airbus is an EADS company.
C Jet becomes first private customer for VIP Airbus A350 XWB 14 November 2007
C Jet Limited of Hong Kong has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the first VIP Airbus A350XWB, becoming a new customer for the type.
Called the Airbus A350XWB Prestige the aircraft will feature a VIP cabin customised to C Jet Limited’s needs.
“With the range to go almost anywhere in the world, plus the widest and most spacious cabin of any Airbus widebody apart from the A380, the A350XWB Prestige is going to be a tremendous aircraft for us,” says C Jet Chairman Tony Chan. “And with a more modern design than any other civil aircraft in service today or planned, it will be the VIP widebody of the future,” he adds.
C Jet Limited has just become a customer for the Airbus Corporate Jetliner (ACJ), so the Airbus A350XWB Prestige will be its second corporate aircraft from Airbus.
“With orders for the Airbus A350XWB already flooding in from airlines, the addition of our first VIP version is welcome news, rounding out a line of modern Airbus corporate jetliners that already stretches from the A318 to the A380,” says Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers John Leahy.
A350XWB is the latest member of the modern Airbus product line, featuring even more of the passenger pleasing innovations that have become its hallmark. It features a fuel-saving advanced aerodynamic design, a weight-saving airframe with more than 50 per cent advanced materials, and the latest cost-saving centralised maintenance computer.
Firm orders for the Airbus A350XWB airliner now stand at 276 from 11 customers.
Airbus is an EADS company.
Airbus ends the 10th Dubai Airshow with record orders 14 November 2007
Airbus ended the 10th Dubai Airshow with major orders, re-enforcing customer confidence in its leading product range. During the show, Airbus received 163 firm orders valued at US over $28 billion at catalogue prices, from 10 customers. Airbus also won its largest ever order in terms of value for 70 A350 XWBs and 11 A380s from Emirates Airline. In addition, it received 132 commitments from four customers.
Demand for the A350 XWB was very strong with a total of 80 firm orders from two customers. In addition to the Emirates order for 70 aircraft, Airbus received a firm contract from Yemenia for ten A350s. In addition Dubai Aerospace Enterprise Capital (DAE-Capital) committed to acquire 30 A350s, while C Jet Limited of Hong Kong became the first customer for the VIP version of the plane, the A350XWB Prestige. Total firm orders for the type now stand at 276 from 11 customers.
The Dubai Airshow also reconfirmed the importance of the A380 to the world market. In addition to the Emirates order for 11 additional aircraft, Airbus received the first order for a private A380. The order was placed by HRH Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal of Saudi Arabia, and opens a new market for Airbus’ all new “gentle green giant”.
Airbus’ Single Aisle Family continued its success with 66 firm orders, plus commitments for an additional 101 received from nine customers, including 20 from NAS, 70 from DAE Capital, 22 from Saudi Arabian Airlines, 34 from Air Arabia, eight from Air Blue, nine from Nile Air and four from private customers. The order from Saudi Arabian Airlines was the first from the airline in 25 years.
The firm orders received during the show also include a firm order for five A330s from Oman Air.
“This Airshow has confirmed that Airbus is very much back on the market, continuing to satisfy customers with the right products,” says Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers John Leahy.
“The A380 and A350 XWB have been the highlight of the show, receiving tremendous customer endorsement. They will lead the way in the future in terms of aircraft technology, passenger comfort and environment friendliness.”
