The UK’s largest airline easyJet has ‘earmarked’ the A320neo for its future fleet requirements following an extensive technical evaluation.
Subject to shareholder approval – something not a foregone conclusion given very public divisions between founding shareholder Stelios Haji-Ioannou and its board and senior management around fleet planning – easyJet has identified a need for 100 A320neo aircraft.
The newer-generation aircraft will be preceded by 35 current-model A320s equipped with Sharklets. Of the total 135 aircraft, 85 will be for replacement.
Based on the company’s growth forecasts, the A320 was selected for offering the best productivity, lowest operating cost and best fuel efficiency of any single aisle aircraft in the 180-seat sector. Currently easyJet operates a fleet largely based on the smaller A319 seating 156 passengers.
easyJet operates one of Europe’s most extensive route networks and last year carried 55 million passengers. easyJet is also the largest A320 Family customer and operator in Europe.
