easyJet orders more neos

LCC (Low Cost Carrier) easyJet said it would buy up to 257 Airbus neos (New Engine Option) as it plots its growth beyond 2028. easyJet CEO Johan Lundgren said the proposed deal with Airbus would add 157 aircraft plus the option for 100 more A321neo jets. The airline currently operates about 330 aircraft and will be retiring some older planes. It already has a separate order for 163 planes due up to 2028. The airline's founder, Stelios Haji-Ioannou, who owns a 15% stake, has in the past questioned the need to buy expensive new aircraft.

The order comprises 157 additional A320-family aircraft, including 56 A320neos and 101 A321neos. These planes are expected to be delivered to the airline between 2029 and 2034. On top of that, the airline has options for an additional 100 A320-family aircraft, which can be exercised in the future. This order is worth around $20 billion at list prices, but airlines typically get huge discounts on orders.

easyJet’s fleet currently consists of 333 aircraft, including 95 A319s, 171 A320s, 52 A320neos, and fifteen A321neos. This new order complements easyJet’s existing outstanding order of 132 A320neos and 33 A321neos (this doesn’t account for the A320neos and A321neos that have already been delivered).

By retiring older A319s and replacing them with A321neos, they will gain 50% more seating capacity. As travel demand continues to grow over the next decade and airports in Europe continue to be more congested (like London-Gatwick and Amsterdam), this order is the way to be ready for the future.

In the past easyJet operated a relatively small fleet of 84 Boeing 737s, divided over two 200s, 49 300s and 33 700s. In order to keep maintenance and training costs low they decided to change to Airbus and that transition started in 2004, when the first A319 was delivered.

Credit: Reuters