Airbus announced this week a new customer for the A320neo, the Greek airline SKY Express. The carrier, based in Athens, closed an agreement for four units of the intermediate version, however, it will also receive two more A320neo through leasing with the ACG Aviation Capital Group.
Although it has a name similar to that of the Chilean company SKY, the two companies are unrelated. SKY Express was founded in 2005 and operates a fleet of 11 ATR 42 and 72 turboprops.
“It is good news that SKY express has chosen the A320neo to expand its operations and destinations to an international European network. This is a bold step for the development of the airline and we are proud to contribute to that with the A320neo allowing for the best performance in terms of fuel burn, carbon emissions and noise as well as featuring a benchmark cabin,” said Airbus Chief Commercial Officer Christian Scherer.
The SKY Express A320neo will be equipped with CFM Leap-1A turbofans. However, neither the company nor Airbus has revealed when the jets will be delivered.
Airbus has benefited from problems with Boeing’s rival 737 to expand the A320neo family’s order book. The positive outlook was only affected by the pandemic, which practically slowed the market for new commercial aircraft.
In September, the European planemaker did not get a single order. In the third quarter, only five planes were ordered, two of which were A321neo for Lufthansa Technik, but which will be used by the German Air Force.
Airbus had accumulated 300 net orders for commercial planes by September in 2020.
