Pakistan’s Airblue to buy up to 14 new aircraft.

[Reza_Pahlavi]

Re: Pakistan’s Airblue to buy up to 14 new aircraft.

@Aalsi

Mashallah.

Airblue places orders for 14 A-320-200 worth $920m

http://thenews.jang.com.pk/updates.asp?id=32366

Updated at 1855 PST

KARACHI: Airblue, Pakistan’s private sector airline, has placed orders worth dollars 910 million with Airbus for the purchase of 14 new A320-200 aircraft. “This is the largest ever order for outright purchase of brand new aircraft by any Pakistani private sector carrier”, said Chief Operating Officer Airblue, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi while addressing a press conference here Friday.

The formal agreement for the purchase of these aircrafts was signed between Airbus Industries and Airblue in Dubai on November 13during the five-day air show. The COO of Airbus Industries John Leahy signed the agreement on behalf of the aircraft manufacturer and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on behalf of the airblue. Abbasi said the first A320-200 aircraft would be delivered in July 2009, and thereafter one aircraft would be delivered after every three months thus completing the delivery of 14 aircraft by the end of 2012.

He stated that the airline is also reviewing other aircraft requirements, and is looking into acquisition of 4 to 8 modern planes (A350/787) for long haul routes based on market situation during the next 24 months. About future expansion plans, Abbasi said the airline is also interested in acquiring three more aircraft on lease by June2008 to expand its international network. Once the new aircraft are inducted in the fleet, airblue would expand towards West as well as East. He said the airline is planning to expand its operation to more European, Middle Eastern destinations, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Thailand.

That’s a major investment from Airblue, which demonstrates that private airlines are doing a roaring trade these days.