Airlines Volotea expands fleet with four new Airbus A320s
Low-Cost carrier Volotea has announced that it will expand its fleet by four additional Airbus A320 aircraft.
For the upcoming summer, Volotea has decided to become a full Airbus operator by welcoming new A320 family aircraft and by phasing out entirely the Boeing 717 fleet. The company has already sourced 15 A320s and will add up to four more.
Based on the air travel demand of last year, Volotea will increase its overall capacity by 15 percent. The A320s are configured with 180 seats, while the 717 can welcome 125 passengers on board in a single-class configuration.
This fleet renewal strategy is part of the carrier´s strategical, financial and operational plans for the post-COVID-19 period. By operating a full-Airbus fleet, the airline will benefit from lower maintenance and operational costs. Furthermore, pilots will only need a single pilot license, a simplified scheduling and easier monitoring and auditing of all areas are advantages, too.
The increased capacity and more efficient engines, the A320 will reduce Volotea´s carbon footprint per passenger. Compared to the 717, the A320 also features more aerodynamical advantages that reduce fuel consumption and noise.
Carlos Muñoz, Founder and CEO of Volotea confirmed: “We are very proud to move towards a 100% Airbus fleet. As a European company we are very keen to count on Airbus as our fleet partner long-term. We will continue growing on our strategy of connecting mid and small European cities, with a more modern and competitive aircraft type, the Airbus A320, that has 20-25% lower operational costs than the previous B717s it replaces.”
“This increased competitiveness will be very necessary in a post-COVID environment, which may mean lower demand for the coming years. This change will also help us to be in the best position to take advantage of large new opportunities ahead, such as the one created in Spain through the acquisition of Air Europa by Iberia, and in France by the restructuring of France's regional market,” Muñoz concluded.
Volotea was founded in 2011 and is a fast-growing low-cost carrier in Europe. Since beginning operations, Volotea has transported more than 30 million passengers across Europe. In normal market circumstances, the airline serves 90 destinations across 14 countries. This year, the airline seeks to open a route from France to Algeria, which would be the first African destination to join the network.
Source © volotea.com