EasyJet is expecting to take delivery of its first higher-density Airbus A320 this month, but is still weighing the possibility of acquiring the larger A321.
The UK budget carrier disclosed during a half-year financial briefing that the shift in its fleet balance away from the A319 towards the A320 had generated a £0.38 ($0.55) benefit in cost per seat.
Chief executive Carolyn McCall, speaking at the briefing, said the first 186-seat A320 would be delivered to the carrier this month.
She says the airline is planning to retrofit the increased seating to 105 other A320s and that 53 aircraft in its fleet would carry the higher-density cabin by summer 2017.
But the airline remains undecided on the A321neo, to which it has the option to convert some of its on-order A320neo jets.
McCall says the company is conducting a “rigorous review” of the type.
“We have to be absolutely sure of the economic benefits,” she says, adding that a conversion is “not a simple decision” because the company’s A320 business model “works so well”.
“It would be great to fill [an A321],” she says, but not if it presents other burdens to the EasyJet operation.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
