European low-cost airline easyJet is committing to buy 157 more A320neo series jets as it seeks to expand in response to rising passenger volumes, or what aircraft supplier Airbus S.A. called the carrier’s “fleet renewal and upgauging plan”. The purchase has been approved by easyJet shareholders and could be worth up to $17.4 billion based on list prices for the narrow-body A320neo series, though neither Airbus nor the buyer have indicated the value of the commitment.
London-based easyJet serves dozens of European destinations from several bases in the U.K. It operates an all-Airbus fleet of 324 A320 and A320neo series aircraft, and it has previous orders in place for 177 A320neos of different configurations.
A320neo series jets – of which there are three variants – are narrow-body aircraft powered by CFM International LEAP-1A or Pratt & Whitney PW1000G geared turbofan engines, and featuring sharklet wings, as part of fuel-saving design. Airbus maintains that the A320neo series achieves 15-20% greater fuel efficiency than the previous A320 series.
Airbus detailed that the new order involves 56 A320neo and 101 A321neo jets, as well as increasing an earlier order for 35 A320neo jets to the larger A321neo aircraft.
“We are very pleased to be able to confirm this significant order which not only enables easyJet to replace its older aircraft with more efficient aircraft, a core component of our net zero roadmap, but also provides us ability for disciplined growth, including the significant opportunity that up-gauging brings,” stated Johan Lundgren, CEO of easyJet.
