Gulf Air has approached the market with a request for proposals for six new Airbus narrowbody aircraft scheduled for delivery this year.

The Middle-East carrier is asking for purchase and leaseback deals covering two Airbus A320s and four new Airbus A321s.

Gulf Air signed a letter of intent with Airbus for six new A321ERs and deliveries are scheduled for March, July, September, October, November and December, according to Flightglobal's Ascend Online database.

One A320 is scheduled for next month.

Last year, Gulf Air closed a purchase-and-leaseback deal for new Airbus A320s with MC Aviation Partners (MCAP). The first aircraft, MSN 4780, was delivered in July. A second aircraft, MSN 4827, joined in August while in October Gulf Air received two aircraft, MSNs 4860 and 4865.

Gulf Air will take delivery of 12 Airbus A330-300s in 2013, followed by another seven in 2014 and the final aircraft in 2015. The 787-8 fleet is not scheduled before 2020.

Source: Commercial Aviation Online