The Qantas Group has signed an order for 21 more Airbus A320neos to take its A320neo Family backlog to 99, but has deferred other orders until after 2016 and to as late as 2022.
The 21 aircraft order was placed in June and is on top of an order for 78 neos the airline placed in 2011. The aircraft are ostensibly destined for Jetstar as older A320s are paid off and to cover growth, although the airline has refused to rule out operating the aircraft on Qantas mainline domestic services to replace 737s.
The order deferrals were flagged as part of the Group’s $2 billion restructure and reduction in capital spending announced in January.
The first A320neo was rolled out on July 1, and is expected to commence flight tests in September with a view to first service entry in late 2015.
