AER LINGUS, subject to Board and shareholder approval, has concluded a deal with Airbus to supply the airline”s new European fleet. The deal will see the airline”s transition to a single fleet type for its European operation by the end of 2005 and add 15 new routes to its rapidly expanding network by summer 2005. Under the deal Aer Lingus will acquire 17 A320 aircraft of which seven will be purchased outright and 10 will be leased from ILFC. Together with the six A321s and four A320s already in the fleet this will mean a total short-haul fleet of 27 Airbus aircraft. The deal also includes options for a further 10 A320s.
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