Northwest Airlines orders more A330s and A319s
Toulouse, 17 January 2001
Northwest Airlines has ordered 24 Airbus A330-300 wide-body twin jet airliners as its main trans-Atlantic aircraft. Deliveries of the aircraft are scheduled to run from June 2003 through 2006. The airline also exercised options for six A319 single-aisle aircraft for 2002 delivery.
The A330s will replace Northwest's fleet of DC-10s for use on its trans-Atlantic routes. Northwest will configure the A330-300 with 302 seats in a two-class layout. The A330 operation will provide up to 30 per cent in fuel savings and other significant operating cost benefits over the DC-10s they will replace.
Northwest has selected Pratt & Whitney PW4168A engines to power their newest Airbus widebodies.
Northwest was the North American launch customer for the single-aisle A320 in 1986, and currently operates a fleet of 90 A320 Family aircraft, including 20 A319s and 70 A320s. Northwest is one of the top three U.S. operators of Airbus aircraft, in terms of number of planes.
'We are looking forward to putting the A330-300 into service on our trans-Atlantic routes," said John Dasburg, President and Chief Executive Officer of Northwest Airlines. 'We believe passengers will enjoy its comfort and amenities and its substantial commonality with our existing Airbus fleet means reduced training and maintenance costs."
"Placing Airbus widebodies at Northwest, a U.S. airline with a truly international customer base, demonstrates the worldwide acceptance of the top technology and comfort that the Airbus widebody family offers," said Noël Forgeard, Airbus Chief Executive Officer. "We are honored that Northwest has selected the A330, which symbolizes our continuing partnership with the airline as it renews its widebody fleet and continues to grow its family of Airbus single-aisle aircraft."
The Airbus A330-300, the large twin-engine member of the A330/A340 family, features a range of 5,600 nm (10,400 km) in a typical three-class seating configuration. With true widebody comfort, the volume efficiency of the A330-300 is such that, after allowance for passenger baggage, it has more space for cargo than in a 747, while offering unbeatable seat-mile costs.
Airbus is jointly owned by BAE SYSTEMS (20 per cent) and EADS (80 per cent).
For further information, please contact:
AIRBUS - PRESS DEPARTMENT
Tel.: (33) 05.61.93.33.87 or 05.61.93.34.31
www.airbus.com
