United boosts fleet with more A320 Family aircraft
Toulouse, 17 August 2000
United Airlines has once again turned to Airbus to grow its single-aisle fleet. The Chicago-based airline has placed a firm order for six A319 and six A320 aircraft, exercising options from its 1998 purchase agreement. This deal comes on top of two other firm orders placed in 2000, including one placed in January for nine A320 Family aircraft and 10 A320 Family aircraft ordered in May. Deliveries of all 31 aircraft ordered this year are slated for 2002.
Including the order announced today, United had ordered a total of 164 A320 Family aircraft, and currently operates a fleet of more than 90 A319s and A320s, the third largest fleet of Airbus aircraft worldwide, and the number one operator of Airbus aircraft in North America.
"We continue to have very strong reliability with the A320 Family, and our customers respond very positively to the unique comfort of the cabin," said James Goodwin, United Airlines Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "As United expands its routes and frequency throughout the world, we are confident in having Airbus help power our growth. At this time of rising fuel costs, we are particularly appreciative of the A320 Family's fuel economy."
"Airbus aircraft have been an integral part of United's growth since the first A320 was delivered to the airline in 1993 and we are particularly proud that United has decided to continue its charge into the future with Airbus aircraft," said Noël Forgeard, Airbus Industrie Chief Executive Officer. "This repeat order is an endorsement of the appeal to both passengers and crew of the advantages of the A320 Family."
Consisting of the A318, A319, A320 and A321, Airbus' single-aisle A320 Family offers the most profitable and modern aircraft in the 107-185 seat market. Boasting the widest fuselage in its class, the A320 Family provides passengers with a more spacious and comfortable cabin, wider seats and aisles, as well as more spacious overhead stowage. Due to the commonality among the A320 Family, United Airlines can operate both its A319s and A320s with the same crew of pilots, flight attendants and maintenance personnel, saving on training time and expenses. In 1996, the year the A319 entered service, United became the first U.S. airline to order the aircraft.
To date, the A320 Family has won some 2,500 firm orders, of which more than 1,260 are in operation with some 129 customers and operators worldwide. At the Farnborough Air Show, Airbus announced it will increase its A320 Family production rates from 22 to 30 aircraft per month by the end of 2002.
