New York-based JetBlue Airways has amended its
purchase agreement with Airbus to include an additional 15 Airbus
A321ceo (current engine option) and 15 A321neo (new engine option)
aircraft.
The airline, which already operates A321s, has not yet
announced its engine selection for the newly ordered aircraft.
Beginning in 2019, JetBlue has the flexibility to configure the
New Engine Option aircraft to the Longer Range version of the A321
– the A321LR.
“Airbus has been our partner since
the beginning, and we are proud that our partnership continues
today,” said Robin Hayes, president and CEO, JetBlue. “The A321 is
an incredible aircraft that is delivering results for our
business. We intend to deploy many of these aircraft to expand our
successful Mint experience and our west coast presence.”
Many of JetBlue’s newly ordered A321 aircraft are expected
to be delivered from Airbus’ newest manufacturing facility in
Mobile, Alabama.
The first aircraft to be produced at Airbus’ U.S.
Manufacturing Facility – a JetBlue A321 known as “BluesMobile” –
is on public display today at the EAA AirVenture air show in
Oshkosh, Wisconsin. BluesMobile was delivered to the airline and
entered service this spring.
“When we decided to
build an assembly line in the U.S., we did it to help meet the
increasing demand from our U.S. customers,” said John Leahy, Chief
Operating Officer – Customers. “The A320 Family is a market leader
worldwide – one that has found particularly great success in the
United States because of its economics, efficiency and comfort. We
look forward to delivering more and more aircraft from our U.S.
facility to our customers here in America.”
JetBlue
currently operates a fleet of 160 A320 Family aircraft, including
130 A320s and 30 A321s. The
airline’s backlog of Airbus aircraft now comprises of 116 planes: 25
A320neo, 31 A321ceo, and 60 A321neo aircraft.
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