Travelbiz E-Zine
1
July
2022

Aer Lingus signs deal for two next generation short haul aircraft

#Traveltradetogether

Both new A320neo aircraft will predominantly operate between London Heathrow and Dublin from July this year.

This new generation aircraft will support the airline’s sustainability programme.  Aer Lingus, as part of IAG, has pledged to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and has committed to powering 10% of its flights using sustainable aviation fuel by 2030.

The deal was signed with CDB Aviation, a wholly owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co. Limited (‘CDB Leasing’) and will see the new generation A320neo join Aer Lingus’ fleet for the very first time.

They will replace two previous generation Airbus A320ceos, which will be retired from the fleet. The new A320neos are expected to enter into service towards the end of July 2022.

The Airbus A320neo delivers up to a 20% reduction in fuel burn and CO2 emissions and close to a 50% reduction in noise footprint when compared to the previous generation A320ceo. There is a greater density of seats on the A320neo aircraft, 186 versus 174 on the previous generation A320neo, resulting in lower fuel emissions per seat/passenger on board.

The new aircraft will be delivered in full Aer Lingus livery, branding and cabin interior and will complement the airline’s A321neo LR aircraft, eight of which have been added to the Aer Lingus transatlantic fleet in recent years. The two new A320neo aircraft will join the Aer Lingus fleet for short-haul operations and will predominantly operate between London Heathrow and Dublin.

 

Lynne Embleton (Aer Lingus CEO1) said: “This is a great opportunity to bring new, state-of-the-art aircraft into our short haul fleet. Renewing our fleet is one of the key ways for Aer Lingus to meet our sustainability targets, which is a priority for us over the coming years. The new generation Airbus A320neo aircraft is much more sustainable in terms of fuel burn and CO2 emissions and this is not only important to Aer Lingus but also to our customers. Equally, these more environmentally-friendly aircraft incur lower landing charges in some key airports so the new A320neos will help us to reduce costs”.

Patrick Hannigan (CDB Aviation Chief Executive Officer) said: “Our teams worked hand in hand to expediently execute this transaction as an important element of the Irish flag carrier’s recovery plan from the impact of the pandemic on air travel. The A320neo’s operating advantages will also further strengthen Aer Lingus’ leading position among European airlines in enhancing connectivity with a focus on improving efficiency and reducing aviation’s environmental footprint”.

Aer Lingus continues to grow its fleet and expects to acquire a further two A320neo aircraft in 2023. In addition, the airline has plans to boost its fleet with six Airbus A321neo XLR aircraft which are a longer-range variant of the A321neo LR, and will enable further growth of Aer Lingus’ transatlantic network.

Registered as EI-NSA (MSN10712) and EI-NSB (MSN10786), the two new A320neo aircraft were originally built by Airbus to be delivered to the Russian airline Smartavia in March, but have now become available to Aer Lingus because of the ongoing sanctions against Russia.

Subscribe to our E-Zine

    More

    from latest edition

    AmaWaterways Launches First-Ever Luxury River Cruise Ship on Colombia’s Magdalena River
    16th May 2025

    AmaWaterways Launches First-Ever Luxury River Cruise Ship on Colombia’s Magdalena River

    AmaWaterways has officially welcomed AmaMagdalena, the first-ever luxury river cruise ship to navigate Colombia’s Magdalena River. The historic launch, which took place on 12 April 2025, marks a...

    Read more
    AmaWaterways Incentive €50 One4All Voucher for every 2025 Booking made 1st – 31st May 2025
    16th May 2025

    AmaWaterways Incentive €50 One4All Voucher for every 2025 Booking made 1st – 31st May 2025

    Well it’s scorching outside so what better way to inspire your customers to holiday! With a beautiful gentle breeze on a river cruise, and a beautiful air-conditioned ship it is a most wonderfu...

    Read more
    Etihad Airways Continues Fleet Expansion with Boeing Agreement
    16th May 2025

    Etihad Airways Continues Fleet Expansion with Boeing Agreement

    Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, is further expanding its fleet, confirming an order for 28 wide-body Boeing aircraft. Since 2023, the airline has steadily grown...

    Read more
    Art and Soul to bring 350 works to five-star Cork resort
    15th May 2025

    Art and Soul to bring 350 works to five-star Cork resort

    Ireland’s biggest art and sculpture event, featuring over 350 works, is set to return to Cork’s five-star Castlemartyr resort. Art and Soul, featuring works by Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst, Banksy,...

    Read more
    New data from CTM reveals Millennial and Gen Z business travellers are confident in AI’s potential to improve corporate travel experiences
    15th May 2025

    New data from CTM reveals Millennial and Gen Z business travellers are confident in AI’s potential to improve corporate travel experiences

    Global market research conducted by Corporate Travel Management (CTM) in March 2025, surveying more than 700 Millennial and Gen Z employees, revealed optimism about the role of AI in business tr...

    Read more
    Las Vegas Celebrates 120 Years of Iconic History and Reinvention
    15th May 2025

    Las Vegas Celebrates 120 Years of Iconic History and Reinvention

    On May 15th, Las Vegas celebrates its 120th birthday, honoring more than a century of growth, innovation, and unforgettable moments that have redefined tourism and shaped the city into the Sport...

    Read more