- The 400th Airbus aircraft, an A321neo, is part of easyJet’s fleet renewal and expansion plan, an important element of the company’s roadmap towards net zero.
- Following the handover ceremony at the Airbus factory in Hamburg, the aircraft took off on its maiden flight to easyJet’s base and maintenance site in Berlin, where it will be prepared for entry into service.
- This milestone delivery coincides with the 20th anniversary of easyJet’s operations in Germany and is a testament to the airline’s historic partnership with Airbus.
easyJet and Airbus today celebrate the success of their more than twenty-year collaboration with the manufacturer’s delivery of the 400th Airbus aircraft of the airline, a Airbus A321neo.
The handover ceremony for the new easyJet aircraft took place at Finkenwerder, Airbus’ production facility for the A320 program in Hamburg. The new airplane features a special livery, with the number 400 made up of miniature aircraft.
The delivery flight from Hamburg-Finkenwerder to easyJet’s maintenance hangar at Berlin Brandenburg Airport was fueled with a 5% blend of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) – the first time a blend has been used of SAF to operate an easyJet flight from Germany.
Since the delivery of easyJet’s first Airbus A320 Family aircraft 20 years ago, the airline has established itself as one of the world’s largest operators of Airbus’ single-aisle A320 Family aircraft, with more than 330 aircraft currently in service.
| Regarding the delivery of the 400th aircraft, David Morgan, Chief Operating Officer at easyJet, said: “We are very pleased to receive our 400th aircraft from Airbus: a delivery that also coincides with our 20th anniversary of operations in Germany. “As we continue our fleet renewal program with more fuel-efficient and quieter A320neo Family aircraft, we are proud to continue working with Airbus and CFM, who both have a strong approach to sustainability in manufacturing and they continue to be reliable partners for easyJet.” Benoit de Saint Exupery, EVP for Sales, Commercial Aircraft at Airbushe added: “This is a clear sign of the company’s commitment to minimizing fuel consumption and emissions through the use of latest generation aircraft. It took easyJet just over 20 years to deliver its 400th Airbus aircraft, averaging an impressive 20 new Airbus aircraft deliveries per year since 2003.” |
The event, which coincided with the 20th anniversary of easyJet’s operations in Germany, comes after the company recently confirmed a firm order for a further 157 A320neo family aircraft. The order includes 56 A320neo and 101 A321neo aircraft and also includes the downsizing of an existing order for 35 A320neos into the larger A321neos.
With more than 10,350 orders and approximately 3,200 deliveries to more than 130 customers and operators worldwide, the A320neo family is, to date, one of the best-selling single-aisle aircraft families in the world.
Thanks to the integration of operational efficiencies, including new generation engines and Sharklets, the aircraft allows for a 50% reduction in noise during take-off and landing and to achieve fuel savings and a reduction in CO2 up to 15% compared to previous generation single-aisle aircraft.
Other operational efficiencies, including descent profile optimization (DPO) and continuous descent approach (CDA)[1]a fuel saving software that easyJet recently installed across its fleet, will be standard on the airline’s 400th aircraft and future new A320 family aircraft that Airbus will deliver to easyJet.
