Pakistan’s Airblue expands fleet with Airbus A320

Airblue, Pakistan’s fastest-growing airline has signed a firm contract for eight Airbus A320s, taking their total order for the A320 Family to 14. In late November 2006, Airblue signed firm contracts for six Airbus A320s.

The aircraft will be configured to seat 157 passengers in two classes. Airblue operates on domestic and regional routes to Dubai in addition to long haul services to the United Kingdom, and hopes to expand routes to additional international destinations.

Tariq Chaudhary, Airblue Chairman and CEO, said, “the choice of the Airbus A320 aircraft will allow Airblue to continue providing the high level of comfort and reliability expected by its customers; and the ability of the A320 to perform efficiently on a range of routes from 30 minute to over five hour flight time is crucial to Airblue’s business model of operating with a single aircraft type.”

“We are pleased Airblue is expanding with our A320 family aircraft. The decision reflects the technological superiority of the A320, the superior larger and more comfortable cabin for passenger comfort, increased storage for customer convenience. The aircraft has proven to have the lowest operating costs in its class”, said Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO.

The A320 Family, which includes the A318, A319, A320 and A321, is recognised as the benchmark single-aisle aircraft family. Each aircraft features fly by wire controls and all share unique cockpit commonality across the range. Over 5,450 Airbus A320 Family have been sold and over 3200 delivered to more than 200 customers and operators worldwide, making it the worlds best selling commercial jetliner ever.

With proven reliability and extended servicing periods, the A320 Family offers the lowest operating costs of any single aisle aircraft. In addition, the latest new cabin design saves on weight and offers the passenger a quieter and roomier experience as well as significantly larger overhead stowage lockers.

Uniquely, the A320 Family offers a containerised cargo system, which is compatible with the worldwide standard wide-body system.