Spirit Airlines raises Airbus' spirits with repeat orders for 30 A319s
01 Feb 2007
The order is a confirmation of a deal finalized in late 2006 and brings Spirit's total Airbus order to 44 (37 A319s and seven A321s). Airbus said that deliveries of the newly ordered aircraft are slated to begin in October 2009 and will run through mid-2013. It also said each of the single-aisle aircraft will be powered by International Aero Engines' V2500s.
Airbus is particularly happy with the fact that Spirit is an American customer, and also, that it has come back with a repeat order in less than three years after placing its initial order with Airbus.
"Spirit joined the ranks of leading U.S. customers for Airbus less than three years ago, and for the airline to come back this soon with an order of this magnitude shows that Airbus aircraft are working well for Spirit," said John Leahy, Airbus COO Customers. Leahy also dubbed the A320 family of Airbus aircraft as a "cornerstone of Airbus' global success."
In turn, Spirit's president and CEO, Ben Baldanza, said that the new airplanes affirmed Spirit's position as the leading low-cost carrier to the Caribbean and Latin America. He also praised the efficiency of the V2500 power plant.
Spirit currently operates a fleet of 31 purchased and leased A320 Family aircraft - 25 A319s and six A321s. As for the current configuration, each of the new A319s will seat 144 passengers, eight in "Spirit Plus" and 136 in coach.
A319
According to Airbus, the A319 brings new standards of comfort and performance to markets previously served only by the small jet aircraft. It offers a variety of seating configurations, from an all business-class layout to an optional high-density version.
Galleys, lavatories and stowages can be located in different numbers, groupings and locations. In-flight entertainment can also be incorporated in the seats or screens mounted on partitions below the overhead stowages, allowing airlines to adopt an almost infinite variety of cabin interiors.
The A319 also offers an exceptional range of 3,700 nm(6,850 km) a true transcontinental non-stop capability, allowing it to be deployed for both business or leisure and holiday travel.
The A319 program was launched in 1993 with the first aircraft entering service in 1996, and is the third derivative in the A320 family. According to Airbus, firm orders for the A320 family of aircraft, consisting of the 107-seat A318, 124-seat A319, 150-seat A320 and 185-seat A321, currently stand at more than 5,000 aircraft, including the new order.
