Industry Air Vanuatu orders four Airbus A220s for fleet renewal

The firm commitment includes two A220-100s and two A220-300s. With these four aircraft, Air Vanuatu wants to conduct a significant fleet expansion. The airline is set to become the launch customer for the A220 in the Pacific region.

Air Vanuatu Chief Executive Officer Derek Nice said: “We are proud to be the launch airline in the South Pacific of the best-in-class Airbus A220. These aircraft will be deployed to operate on our current domestic and international routes, including our newly announced non-stop Melbourne-Vanuatu service, and will bolster plans to expand our network in the South Pacific.”

Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer, added: “By ordering the A220, Air Vanuatu is making a significant investment in advanced technology and superior passenger comfort while demonstrating its respect for fuel efficiency and the environment. Air Vanuatu’s decision to place the Airbus A220 at the centre of its expansion plans will surely keep it one step ahead of the competition.”

Air Vanuatu currently operates flights to 26 domestic airports and furthermore to international destinations in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and New Caledonia. The A220s will firmly help the carrier to serve these routes most efficiently and comfortably possible. Also, Air Vanuatu can launch a growth plan that is key to the country´s economic development goals.

The state-of-the-art A220-100 and A220-300 are being powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1500G turbofans that offer at least 20% lower fuel burn per seat when compared to previous generation aircraft. Moreover, a new cabin features wider seats and the largest windows in its market segment.

To date, Airbus´ A220 family has received orders for 530 aircraft and currently holds the lion´s share in the 100- to 150-seat aircraft market. Last year, Airbus acquired the program from Canadian manufacturer Bombardier.

Air Vanuatu is the flag-carrier airline of the Pacific Island nation of Vanuatu and commenced operations back in 1987. Since then, the airline has been a significant factor in establishing Vanuatu as a tourist destination. The current fleet consists of two ATR 72s and one Boeing 737-800.