UK-based holiday airline Jet2 has signed a firm agreement with Airbus for 36 A321neo. These will be the airline’s first owned Airbus aircraft since it was rebranded in 2003. Over the past few years however, Jet2 had leased several Airbus A321 and A330 aircraft to match high demand during summer seasons.
While no delivery schedule was announced, these new aircraft will feature 232 seats and the new Airbus Airspace cabin with larger overhead compartments and ‘mood lighting’. It is expected that these aircraft will be used to replace the airline’s older Boeing 737 and 757 jets and possibly expand Jet2’s footprint in the UK’s leisure market.
Commenting on his airline’s plans, Jet2 CEO Philip Meeson said: “Jet2 will be proud to operate the Airbus A321neo in the years ahead. This aircraft is, in our opinion, the most efficient and environmentally friendly aircraft in its class today – it will give our holiday customers a wonderfully comfortable and enjoyable experience […].”
Jet2 was originally founded in 1978 as Express Air Service and rebranded in 1983 as Channel Express. Up until 2003 it operated mainly domestic services in the UK and both passenger and cargo flights to European cities. It was rebranded as a low-cost carrier in 2003 with a focus on leisure destinations in Southern Europe. It currently has 90 aircraft in its fleet, mostly consisting of Boeing 737-800, a few previous-generation 737-300, as well as 757-200 and one leased Airbus A321.
Jan-Hendrik is an aviation enthusiast from Germany, loves to travel the world and fly on as many aircraft as possible. His first flight was with a Condor 757 to Spain and has been interested in aviation ever since. His fields of expertise are aircraft accidents and passenger experience (PaxEx).
