LUFTHANASA GROUP’S supervisory board signed a firm order for ten Airbus A320ceos and 15 A320neos on September 17 in a deal with the European manufacturer valued at $3.24 billion at current list prices. The ceos will form the backbone of its new low-cost business model announced by the Lufthansa Group in July (see Airliner World, September 2014), which sees Eurowings operating no-frills services across Europe. Deliveries are due between 2016 and 2017.
“By purchasing fuel-efficient A320 jets with the highest reliability standards, we offer our customers a comfortable, appealing and modern product in a highly competitive market environment,” said Nico Buchholz, Executive Vice President Lufthansa Group Fleet Management. The German carrier is planning to transfer a further 13 A320s from the group’s total outstanding order book to Eurowings from next year as it seeks to expand its budget operations. Meanwhile, Lufthansa has also purchased 15 A320neos, plus ten options for its subsidiary Swiss International Air Lines. “Our decision to go with the cleanest, most reliable and most efficient aircraft, matches the image most people hold of Switzerland, thus the A320neo was a natural fit with our modernisation strategy,” said Buchholz. The first example will be delivered to the Swiss carrier from 2019. The Lufthansa Group currently has 265 aircraft on order with a list value of $38.85 billion scheduled to be delivered over the next ten years.