Jet2 Orders 35 Airbus A320neo Aircraft
Are You Ready For This?
Yorkshire-based airline Jet2 have confirmed their intention to purchase thirty-five more of Airbus' newest, and best-selling narrowbody aircraft family. The announcement comes just months after the carrier added to their order for sixty of the extended A321neo variant in late July. This order however is more important than just a fleet renewal; it confirms Jet2's long-term commitment to the Toulouse-based OEM.
Their entire fleet of Boeing 737-300, 737-800, and 757-200 aircraft will all become surplus to requirement. Not only does this result in yet more 'pocket rockets' out of service, but it also means that a large number of sub-20-year-old aircraft will enter the second-hand market within a six-year period, with no real future.
Source: flightsim.to
Source: Airbus
The new aircraft are set to be delivered over a seven year period, with the first of 35 A321neos being delivered in early 2023, and the final A320neo due to arrive in 2029.
This does however lead onto two possibilities. These hundred aircraft becoming free of ownership could open the door for one of Jet2's current competitors, or a new one, to sweep in and pick up some market share, with older, cheaper aircraft making the job of launching an airline so much easier.
It could also be a gesture from Jet2 of a long-term partnership with Airbus, with the potential for the purchase of widebody aircraft in the near future.
There have been multiple reports over the years that Jet2 were considering a long-haul expansion, and the gap left by bankrupt carrier Thomas Cook, along with the post-Covid reboot of travel might be the perfect trigger for Jet2 to purchase some A330neos to alleviate the need for airtanker and Wamos Air wet and dry leases in the summer season.
It may well be that this is more than just a fleet refresh for Jet2, and more of a sign they are looking to be more than a European low-cost. This may be their sign that soon they will be much more, and I simply cannot wait to see what becomes of it.
Craig
Craig is the CTO of THEAEROSPACEGUYS; he's native to Glasgow Airport, and is a widebody connoisseur. A proud corporal in the Air Training Corps, he also has interests in technology and design.
