British low-cost airline Jet2 announced today that it will order a further 35 A320neo family aircraft and retain an option to purchase an additional 36 aircraft. In doing so, the airline is strengthening its commitment to Airbus, with whom it now mantains firm purchase commitments for 98 aircraft.
According to Jet2 in a press release, deliveries will take place over a three-year period, ending in 2031. At base price, they represent a total value of approximately 3.9 billion dollars. If the option for the additional airplanes is exercised, the total value of the transaction would rise to 8 billion.
The new order is in addition to the one placed in 2021, when Jet2 initially ordered 36 Airbus A321neo. However, it later added a further 15 aircraft to the order. According to the text published by the company, Jet2 “will retain flexibility in determining the most favourable method of financing the aircraft, which will be through a combination of internal resources and debt”.
“We are delighted to build on our existing relationship with Airbus and to have placed this additional aircraft order which provides the company with certainty of supply well into the next decade”, said Philip Meeson, Jet2’s Executive Chairman. “The order reflects our confidence that we have a much-loved product built on sector leading customer service”, he added.
The airline has traditionally been one of Boeing’s closest European customers. It currently operates Boeing 737-300, 737-800 and 757-200 aircraft. However, the extension of orders to Airbus signals that the European manufacturer’s products will be the main assets of Jet2’s fleet for the next decade.
The company focuses its business on low-cost flights to leisure destinations in Europe, a highly successful model in the United Kingdom.
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