SilkAir orders additional A320 Family aircraft

SilkAir, the regional wing of Singapore Airlines, has signed a contract for an additional six A320 Family aircraft. Comprising four A320s and two A319s, deliveries are scheduled to begin from 2004. The airline currently operates an all Airbus fleet of five A320s and four A319s, with one additional A320 from an earlier order due to join the fleet in 2003. New aircraft will be utilised for the carrier's network expansion.

"Commonality among our Airbus aircraft, and the subsequent savings, are major drivers in the decision to grow our A320 Family fleet," said Subhas Menon, Chief Executive of SilkAir. "The combination of cost-effectiveness and passenger comfort is a definite advantage as we seek to expand our regional network in the coming years."

Airbus' A320 Family features the most modern design, the widest and most comfortable cabin, and a unique level of operational commonality of any single-aisle aircraft. It also has unmatched economics, low maintenance costs, transcontinental range, and a proven worth as an excellent financial investment. The A320 is thus a firm favourite with passengers, invariably coming top in independent surveys, as well as consistently leading in financial and operator polls. 

"With this follow-on order from one of Asia's most dynamic regional airlines, the A320 Family consolidates its position as the best selling product range in its segment, offering an unbeatable combination of operating economics and passenger comfort," said Noël Forgeard, Airbus Chief Executive Officer.

Widely accepted as the industry standard, the best-selling Airbus A320 Family comprises the 107-seat A318, 124-seat A319, 150-seat A320 and 185-seat A321. They share the same airframe - only the fuselage lengths are different - plus the same cockpits, systems and engines. Firm orders for the best-selling A320 Family now approach 3,000, almost 2,000 of which have been delivered, with some 130 customers and operators.

A wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, SilkAir flies to 25 destinations within Asia.

 A leading aircraft manufacturer with the most modern and comprehensive product line on the market, Airbus is a global company with design and manufacturing facilities in France, Germany, the UK, and Spain as well as subsidiaries in the U.S., China and Japan. Headquartered in Toulouse, France, Airbus is an EADS joint Company with BAE SYSTEMS.