Middle Eastern carrier Gulf Air has ordered 20 Airbus A330-300 and 15 A320-family aircraft in the second stage of a fleet-renewal programme.

The Bahrain-based carrier, which revealed the order at the Berlin Air Show today, has not given an engine selection.

But it already operates six A330-200s with Rolls-Royce Trent 700 powerplants, while its 10 A320s are fitted with CFM International CFM56s.

It has not disclosed a delivery date for the Airbus aircraft. Gulf Air’s decision follows an order earlier this year for 16 Boeing 787s.

“We are taking huge strides forward in our strategy to re-fleet and expand our network,” says Gulf Air chief executive Bjorn Naf. “This contract is a significant milestone in this direction as we aim to become the airline of choice and the pearl of the Gulf.”

The carrier will use the A330s on European routes and to underpin its Asia-Pacific services, while the A320s will be deployed on regional connections.

Gulf Air’s current fleet also includes nine Airbus A340-300s.

Source: flightglobal.com's sister premium news site Air Transport Intelligence



 
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Source: Flight International