JetBlue takes flight with A220 purchases
JetBlue announced on Tuesday that it will buy sixty of Airbus’s new A220 model, manufactured in Mobile, Alabama.
Airbus is making the JetBlue with smaller jet manufacturer Bombardier – in fact, Airbus is even hijacking their name, changing it from the Bombardier C Series to the Airbus A220. JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes had this to say about the purchase:
We are evolving our fleet for the future of JetBlue, and the A220-300’s impressive range and economics offer us flexibility and support our key financial and operating priorities. As JetBlue approaches our 20th anniversary, the A220, combined with our A321 and restyled A320 fleet, will help ensure we deliver the best onboard experience to customers and meet our long-term financial targets as we continue disciplined growth into the future.
But the partnership isn’t just beneficial for JetBlue. Airbus also wins with this deal, as it gives them the confidence and financial backing to begin production by 2020. Bombardier and Airbus plan on creating a new assembly line in Mobile by then solely dedicated to the A220. Airbus Chief Commercial Officer Eric Shulz remarks,
JetBlue’s selection of the A220 aircraft as a complement to its growing A320 Family fleet is a tremendous endorsement – both of the A220 itself and of the way these two aircraft can work together to provide airline network flexibility and a great passenger experience. JetBlue will be able to leverage the unbeatable efficiency of both the A321neo and the A220-300, as well as taking advantage of the roomiest and most passenger-pleasing cabins of any aircraft in their size categories.
Airbus’s stock jumped 3.6 percent following the news on Tuesday, so investors are clearly happy with JetBlue’s purchase. This will likely pave the way for other airlines to purchase the new plane.
Featured image via Wikipedia
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