http://www.airlinerworld.com 5News Review • Europe
Aegean Signs
Airbus MOU
ATHENS-BASED AEGEAN Airlines has
signed a memorandum of understand-
ing (MOU) with Airbus for 30 A320neo
Family aircraft. The commitment cur-
rently comprises 20 A320neos and
ten A321neos, though the Greek oper-
ator retains the right to adjust this
breakdown, while it is also expected
to acquire a “significant number” of
examples from lessors.
Aegean’s vice-chairman EftichiosVassilakis remarked: “Our decision
to select the latest generation Airbus
A320neo Family follows an intense and
exhaustive evaluation to determine the
best aircraft for our growth and long-
term success. These aircraft will be
key for us to pursue our mission of
providing services of high standards for
our passengers on short- and medium-
haul services.”
The carrier added it has also takenoptions on a further 12 aircraft and
expects to sign the final purchase
agreement, valued at $5bn at list
prices, in June.
Dimitrios Gerogiannis, Aegean’s CEO,
added: “We have worked diligently
over more than 12 months, across
different teams within Aegean to
structure as well as to evaluate the
proposals of the two candidate man-
ufacturers, before selecting Airbus.Our goal was to optimise support con-
ditions but also to set a new starting
point for the design of the aircraft’s
future exploitation. The technology in
these aircraft is excellent. But this is
available to many operators. It only
becomes a competitive advantage
thanks to our people, their skills, co-
operation and ethos which should
allow us to differentiate ourselves and
excel once more.” (Photo Airbus)PORTUGUESE ACMI charter specialist
Hi Fly has unveiled plans to acquire
its first Airbus A380. The Rolls-Royce
Trent 900-powered example is due to
enter service in the middle of this year
and will be configured in a 471-seat,
three-class layout. This consists of 399
in economy, while the upper deck will
feature 12 in first and 60 in business.
“It’s a very proud moment for Hi Fly,”
the Lisbon-based carrier’s president
Paulo Mirpuri remarked. “The A380 is
the largest and most advanced airliner
flying today and certainly the aircraft of
choice for the most discerning air trav-
ellers. This acquisition has been part
of our company’s plans for a while. We
are extremely happy to welcome the
first A380 to our fleet.”
Hi Fly revealed the incoming aircraft willalso be equipped with “state-of-the-art
technology and truly luxurious cabin
interiors”, including a Panasonic CX2 in-
flight entertainment system.
The acquisition makes Hi Fly the fourth
European operator of the super jumbo- after Air France, British Airways and
Lufthansa – and the first in Portugal.
The incoming A380 is expected to be
joined by two new-build A330-200s,
which are now in the final assembly
stage and will be delivered in
June and July respectively.
(Photo Hi Fly)Hi Fly Plans for A
Loganair Extends its Reach
SCOTTISH REGIONAL carrier Loganair
has further expanded its Better
Connected programme after
signing interline agreements with
three major airlines. The partnerships,
with Air France, KLM and Thomas Cook
Airlines, enable Loganair customers
to access connecting flights via
Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow,
Inverness and Norwich under a
single booking.
Loganair’s commercial director Kay
Ryan said: “These are exciting deals
with some of the biggest names in
international air travel, and they mean
a better, joined-up service for our cus-tomers – as well as making it easier
for overseas tourists to come and visit
some of the beautiful places we fly to in
the Highlands and Islands. Our brand
strapline boasts that we’re ‘Better
Connected’, and deals like these make
that statement increasingly true.”
The new partnerships are part of a
wider initiative to improve connections
across Scotland. The Glasgow-based
carrier already operates under a
codeshare agreement with British
Airways via Manchester, and revealed
it is close to signing similar partner-
ships with Emirates and three other
major carriers.B A’s Neo Debut
Factory fresh: Airbus handed over the first of 25 A320neos to British Airways on April 10. The
aircraft, G-TTNA (c/n 8108), entered revenue service five days later and will initially operate on
services from the carrier’s Heathrow hub to Lisbon, Warsaw and Budapest. VIN MANReview
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