Story ID: 461
BermudAir and Flynas Place Airbus Orders
By: Cristofer Slotoroff
Caption: Saudi low-cost carrier’s firm Airbus commitment climbs to 235 aircraft
Word Count: 372
Saudi Arabian low-cost carrier Flynas signed firm orders for five additional Airbus A330-900s and 20 more A321neos at the Farnborough International Airshow on Wednesday.
The Flynas agreement lifts the airline’s A330neo commitment to 20 aircraft and its A321neo commitment to 56, bringing its firm Airbus orders to 235 within a 280-aircraft backlog. The carrier currently operates 67 Airbus aircraft: two A330-300s, four A320ceos, and 61 A320neos.
Flynas CEO and managing director Bander Almohanna said the deal is “aimed at ensuring the sustainable growth of the Flynas fleet over the coming years to support the continued expansion of our six operating bases across the Kingdom, while also strengthening our operational and expansion capabilities for Flynas Syria.” He added that the larger order book will support the Pilgrim Experience Program, which aims to facilitate access to the Two Holy Mosques, and position the airline for events Saudi Arabia is set to host, including Expo 2030 and the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
Airbus pegs the range of the Rolls-Royce Trent 7000-powered A330-900 at up to 7,200 nm and claims that the widebody cuts fuel burn, CO2 emissions, and operating cost by 25% against previous-generation competitors. The airframer cites fuel savings of at least 20% for the A321neo over earlier narrowbodies.
BermudAir Unveiled as A220 Buyer
BermudAir’s previously undisclosed March order for 10 A220-300s represents the airline’s first from Airbus. The carrier plans a 135-seat, three-class layout and intends to use the type to open nonstop routes linking Bermuda, the Caribbean, and North America.
“The A220 is the ideal aircraft to support the next phase of BermudAir’s growth,” said BermudAir founder and CEO Adam Scott, pointing to the type’s “exceptional range, operating economics, and performance at constrained airports.”
“BermudAir’s selection of the A220-300 validates the aircraft’s role as a tool for targeted regional development,” said Airbus executive v-p of sales for commercial aircraft Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, noting the order brings the type into a new region of operation.
Through the end of June, Airbus had delivered 526 A220s to more than 25 operators, with cumulative orders for the type exceeding 1,100.