Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus has announced it has signed a deal to lease two A320neos, helping the carrier to expand its fleet capacity amid a surge in passenger demand during the busy summer season.
On June 27, 2022, aircraft lessor CDB Aviation announced that it has agreed to lease two Airbus A320neo aircraft to Aer Lingus for delivery this summer. The 186-seated aircraft will operate short-haul Air Lingus routes connecting Ireland with destinations across Europe.
Speaking about the deal, Lynne Embleton, CEO of Aer Lingus, said: “This is a great opportunity to bring new, state-of-the-art aircraft into our short-haul fleet. Renewing our fleet is one of the key ways for Aer Lingus to meet our sustainability targets, which is a priority for us over the coming years.”
The carrier, a subsidiary airline of International Airlines Group (IAG) (IAG), aims to gradually cut its aircraft fleet emissions per passenger kilometer by 10% by 2025, and a 20% reduction in net emissions by 2030. The carrier is also targeting net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
“The new generation Airbus A320neo aircraft is much more sustainable in terms of fuel burn and CO2 emissions, and this is not only important to Aer Lingus but also our customers. Equally, the more environmentally friendly aircraft incur lower landing charges in some key airports so this new A320neos will help us to reduce costs,” Embleton added.
Following the delivery of the two new jets, Aer Lingus will operate a monogamous fleet of 54 planes, Planespotters.com data indicates.