Just as the world’s largest air show opens, in Paris, US Airways Group Inc., (LCC) announced their latest aircraft purchase. US Airways said they would purchase 92 Airbus single aisle and wide body jets.
Sixty single-aisle Airbus A320 family aircraft are expected to be delivered between 2010 and 2013, 10 A330-200 aircraft will enter the fleet starting in 2009, and the remainder are A350 aircraft which are expected to enter into service in 2014.
The order for Airbus aircraft is not totally unexpected. US Airways has been moving to an all Airbus fleet. Also the move to Airbus will allow for a quick delivery to US Airways. The current order of aircraft from Airbus is not expected to expand US Airway’s fleet but replace their aging Boeing 737 and their Boeing 767 fleet.
CEO of US Airways, Doug Parker, said in a press release that the new aircraft from Airbus will make US Airway’s fleet “the youngest and most efficient in the U.S. airline industry.”
This is a good move for US Airways. Keeping the fleet very similar will help keep their costs for maintenance down and provide for uniform training across the fleet.
Right now, US Airway's has a fairly healthy fleet age that averages near 12 years. Their Boeing 737's, Boeing 757's and Boeing 767's are the oldest with ages around 15+ years.
No details were released regarding the price tag.
AZCentral.com
Airbus Press Release
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