Azul Expands Fleet with Firm Order for Four Additional Airbus A330-900 Aircraft
Brazilian airline Azul has disclosed a firm order for four additional A330-900 aircraft, adding to its growing fleet and international route offerings. This order stems from a purchase agreement signed in June 2023.
“We are proud to announce this order, as it confirms Azul as the airline with the most fuel-efficient fleet in the region, with over 80% of our capacity coming from next-generation aircraft. With the five A330neos we currently operate and the seven we now have on order, we will standardize our international fleet, allowing us to further enhance Azul’s renowned customer experience and on-time performance,” said Alexandre Malfitani, Azul’s CFO.
“Azul’s re-confirmed confidence in the A330neo underscores once again that the A330neo’s economics and performance are making a true difference in Azul’s widebody strategy, coming out on top of the competition. While Azul will leverage the full potential of Airbus’ unique commonality between its A330 and A320 Family fleets, passengers can rave about a spacious, best-in-class cabin experience – and this on every long-haul flight the airline offers on its attractive, globally growing network,” said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer.
The A330neo is Airbus’ latest widebody aircraft, equipped with the latest generation Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines. It boasts a non-stop flight range of 7,200 nautical miles (13,300 kilometers). The A330 Family, which includes the A330neo, has garnered over 1,800 firm orders from more than 130 customers worldwide, solidifying its position as the world’s most popular widebody family, particularly in the short- and medium-haul widebody market.
The A330neo features the award-winning Airspace cabin, providing passengers with a high level of comfort, spaciousness, and modern design. This includes ample individual space, enlarged overhead bins, a new lighting system, and access to the latest in-flight entertainment and connectivity systems.
Last July, Azul said it is planning to retire its A350-900 fleet just one year after receiving its first aircraft of the model, as per recent reports from Aeroin and other aviation news outlets. Reports suggest that the decision to retire the A350s stems from their high operating costs, making them profitable only on routes of equal or greater distance to Sao Paulo-Paris, in contrast to the more cost-efficient A330-900.
Azul Linhas Aereas commenced operations in 2008 and has since grown to become one of Brazil’s largest airlines, serving more than 160 destinations within Brazil, the United States, Europe, and South America. The airline received the Americas’ first A330neo in 2019 and currently operates 12 A330 Family aircraft.
Airbus has made a significant impact in Latin America and the Caribbean, with over 1,150 aircraft sold in the region. Of these, more than 750 are in operation, and approximately 500 are in the order backlog, commanding a market share of 58% in terms of in-service passenger aircraft. Since 1994, Airbus has secured 75% of net orders in the region.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, airbus.com, Azul Linhas Aereas