Impact from the recent EU-US Open Skies deal continues to reverberate around Europe as Aer Lingus substantially expands its long-haul fleet.
Despite Ryanair CEO, Michael O”Leary”s broadside at his fellow-Irish carrier yesterday (5 June), who said: ”Aer Lingus has pulled off five routes and is retreating from competition ” it has no future as a stand alone player,” Aer Lingus has signalled a clear intent to expand outside Europe.
The airline is to double its long-haul fleet with the addition of Airbus A350XWB and A330-300E aircraft in a deal worth $2.4bn (”1.2bn), in a move to cement its new services to Washington, San Francisco and Orlando this year.
The Irish flag carrier will take delivery of the extra machines ” six A350XWBs and six A330-300Es ” in 2009 with Aer Lingus noting that ”substantial discounts have been negotiated.” A further six A350XWB aircraft are optioned for a 2018 delivery.
Expansion of Aer Lingus” long-haul fleet began last month (May) with the arrival of a new A330-300E and a further example in June, bringing the number of long-range aircraft to nine.
Today”s news will up the long-haul total to 14 by 2014 through the complex delivery of five extra aircraft and the replacement of three older machines ” one in 2009 and two in 2011. A further four aircraft will be replaced in 2015 and 2016.
”These aircraft are key to our growth ambitions, which include new routes to the US, following the Open Skies agreement,” said Aer Lingus chief executive, Dermot Mannion. ”They will complement our existing Airbus fleet and enhance our long-haul network, while offering a superior product.”
Aer Lingus currently has 30 A320 family aircraft and eight A330s.