easyJet has ordered 12 Boeing 737-300s, for the first time directly from Boeing. The London Luton-based low-cost carrier has previously acquired secondhand aircraft, primarily from leasing companies. The airline had also considered acquiring new-generation 737s and had looked at Airbus narrowbodies.
The new aircraft will be added to the fleet in 1998 and 1999, joining six 737-200/300s. It is likely that some of the present fleet will be replaced as the new aircraft become available.
The order comes as easyJet moves to set up a new operation at Liverpool Airport, in north-west England. The carrier plans to start operations with services to Amsterdam and Nice, starting in October. A third hub situated in Scotland is also a possibility as the fleet numbers build up.
The airline already operates to several Scottish cities, including Aberdeen and Glasgow, and also flies to destinations in continental Europe.
Source: Flight International
