Air Lease

US-based aircraft leasing firm Air Lease (ALC) has placed orders worth a total $9bn with European aircraft manufacturer Airbus for 25 A350 XWB airliners and 14 A321neo jets.

The order for 25 A350 XWB jetliners comprises 20 A350-900 and five A350-1000, with an option for five additional A350-1000s.

The purchase deal signed for 14 A321neo jets follows a previous agreement announced at the UK’s Farnborough International Air Show in 2012 for 36 A320neo jets with an option for additional 14 aircraft.

ALC’s cumulative orders for A320neo jetliners have reached 50, with 34 of those being A321neo variants.

Air Lease Corporation chairman and chief executive officer Steven Udvar-Házy said that the A350 XWB family was becoming the benchmark for efficiency in the long haul segment..

"These aircraft will help airlines grow their businesses while simultaneously reducing their operating costs and emissions," Házy said.

"These aircraft will help airlines grow their businesses while simultaneously reducing their operating costs and emissions."

Featuring advanced aerodynamics, design and technologies, A350 XWB is a line of mid-size wide-body jets, and according to the Airbus, it will offer a 25% reduction in fuel consumption and decreased operating costs compared with rival aircraft in the segment.

Scheduled to enter service in 2014, the A350 XWB has logged 617 firm orders from 35 customers worldwide.

A320neo, which incorporates large Sharklet wing-tip devices, will offer 15% fuel savings and accommodate up to 180 passengers. It is scheduled to enter service in late-2015.

To date, Airbus has received more than 9,000 orders for A320 jetliners, with 5,400 having already been delivered to more than 380 customers and operators globally.

Image: Airbus A350 XWB is scheduled to enter into service in 2014. Photo: Fixion / Airbus SAS.

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