Mexican carrier delivers order boost for Airbus with MoU for 90 A321 aircraft
Aircraft group Airbus, has been given a manufacturing boost after Mexican ultra-low-cost airline Viva Aerobus signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for 90 A321neo aircraft.
The order will drive its international and domestic growth. The MoU would bring the airline’s order book to 170 A320 family aircraft.
All the wings for Airbus commercial aircraft are built at the Broughton manufacturing site, near Chester, which employs around 4,500 staff.
Juan Carlos Zuazua, Viva Aerobus chief executive, said: “These 90 A321neo 240-seater aircraft will allow us to grow and renew our fleet and remain the youngest in Latin America.
“The technology and operational efficiency of the A321neos will improve our operational reliability, on-time performance, and provide an unmatched passenger experience. Additionally, we expect to drive further cost-savings which will reflect in lower airfares and strengthen one of our most important advantages – having the lowest cost in the Americas.”
He added: “The fuel-efficiency and noise reduction that the A321neo provides will advance our sustainability efforts by delivering immediate, tangible carbon emission reductions, thus enhancing our position as the most efficient airline in the continent.”
Christian Scherer, chief commercial officer and head of Airbus International, said: “The Mexican leisure market is in full recovery mode and Viva Aerobus is at the centre of the action.
“The unbeatable economics of the A321neo make it the perfect choice for the airline’s ultra-low cost model. We are pleased to have been a partner with the airline since 2013 and look forward to working together as it continues on its growth trajectory.”
The A321neo (new engine option) is the largest member of Airbus’s A320neo family. By incorporating new generation engines and Sharklets, the A321neo brings a 50% noise reduction and more than 20% fuel savings compared with previous single-aisle generation aircraft.
Viva Aerobus has based its fleet renewal strategy on the A320 family. In 2013, the airline placed an order for 52 A320 family aircraft, the largest Airbus aircraft order placed by a single airline in Mexico at the time. In 2018, Viva Aerobus ordered 25 A321neo aircraft. To date, Viva Aerobus operates 74 A320 family aircraft.
