Airline News
Airbus launches A321neo, defends A380
January 20th 2015
Airbus has officially launched the A321neo with 97 tons maximum take-off weight (MTOW) after securing the first commitment from Air Lease Corporation (ALC), also the launch customer for the A330neo. Read More » The US-based lessor signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for 30 more A321neo, upsizing its commitments at the 2014 Farnborough Airshow from 60 to 90.
With a range of 4,000nm, the re-engined A321neo will offer the longest range of any single-aisle airliner on the market, approximately 400nm more than Boeing’s B737 MAX. As such, it could assist Asia-Pacific carriers with their ‘long and thin’ growth strategies, given that routes such as Seoul – Dubai, Delhi – Paris and Auckland - Denpasar would possible with the A321neo that will seat 206 passengers in a typical two-class configuration. It has a list price of $124.4 million, $10.7 million more than the original A321. Deliveries will begin in 2019.
Meanwhile, shares in Airbus dropped 10% last week after it reined in earnings expectations for 2016 and chief financial officer, Harald Wilhelm, suggested it could “discontinue” the A380 as early as 2018 after the manufacturer broke even on the project. Wilhelm’s comments sparked furious back-pedalling from Airbus president, Fabrice Brégier, who said the A380 “was a financial burden […] in the past”, but Airbus “will achieve break-even in 2015”. Brégier clarified that Airbus is looking into the possibility of developing a more fuel-efficient ‘neo’, and/or a stretched version, echoing long-standing requests from Emirates Airlines chief, Sir Tim Clark, and more recent suggestions from Qatar Airways leader, Akbar Al Baker.
