Kifisia, Greece – AEGEAN, a Star Alliance member, plans to continue the strategy of development and expansion of its activities that it has been pursuing for some years now,
increasing the size of its fleet through the order of 7 new Airbus A320’s, and thereby reinforcing one of its main competitive advantages – the low average age of its aircraft.
The company’s successful record both domestically and internationally, its expansion through the takeover of OA, its consistent pursuit of innovative services adding value for customers, in conjunction with Greece’s gradual return to stability – all these factors have created the right conditions for AEGEAN to continue investing in a larger fleet of aircraft.
The deal with Airbus provides for accelerated delivery of the 5 Α320’s which had already been ordered and whose delivery was deferred owing to the difficult conditions brought about by the crisis in Greece, as well as an additional order for 2 more Airbus A320ceos. Delivery of the 7 aircraft will begin in June, 2015 and be completed by early 2016.
The aircraft will be equipped with Airbus “Sharklet” fuel saving wing tip devices and will be powered by IAE V2500 engines. Sharklets are newly designed wing-tip devices that cut the aircraft’s fuel burn and emissions by up to four per cent on longer sectors. They are made from light-weight composites and are 2.4 meters tall.
These aircraft will be the first Α320’s in the AEGEAN fleet with an increased take-off weight capacity of up to 78 tons, allowing expansion of our flight range and offering new scope for enlargement of the AEGEAN network even if the flights are operated from the most southern bases of the company (Heraklion, Rhodes or Larnaca).
Mr. Theodoros Vassilakis, Chairman of AEGEAN, stated: “AEGEAN’s decision to take delivery of 7 new Airbus A320, shows its commitment to invest once more in the ongoing qualitative growth of the aviation sector in the country. The capabilities are increasing and the existing competitive advantange of the low average age of our aircrafts is further enhanced. We do everything in our hands to further increase the satisfaction of our passengers and certainly our competitiveness”.
AEGEAN, which currently operates 205 international routes, from its 8 Greek bases, is the largest ever Greek enterprise in the aviation sector. As the first Greek carrier with 13,000,000 available seats and 120 destinations – 87 abroad, in 32 different countries, and 33 in Greece – AEGEAN has set itself the target of placing Greece firmly back on the global aviation map.
Maintaining its excellent record of recognition as the Best Regional Airline in Europe, AEGEAN received an award from SKYTRAX in 2014 for the 4th yearin a row. The World Airline Awards are the top awards in the global aviation industry and represent the highest accolade for an airline, depending entirely as they do on passenger votes.
