Yemenia orders ten A320s amid plans to expand several routes

Dubai: Yemenia, the flag carrier of Yemen, signed a $700 million (Dh2.57 billion) deal for ten Airbus A320 family aircraft, a top Yemenia official announced at Dubai Air Show on Monday.

The agreement was signed by Saleh Alawaji, a member of the Yemenia board of directors, and John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating officer.

The first A320 will be delivered in 2011 and the others will be handed over in four years.

Configuration

Yemenia's A320s will have a comfortable two-class configuration with seating for 12 passengers in business class and 138 in economy class. The aircraft will be deployed to enhance and expand services on regional, African, Indian and European routes.

This will enable Yemenia to demonstrate its role as a growing regional carrier and contributor to the growth of Yemen's economy.

Alawaji said: "Our long-term strategy is to grow with an integrated fleet of super-efficient and reliable aircraft. The A320 shares operational and maintenance commonality with our existing [Airbus fleet] and will bring added efficiencies. The A320 will also offer our passengers the best cabin comfort in its class."

Leahy said: "We are honoured Yemenia is showing such confidence in our aircraft, and has chosen our products to springboard their ambitious expansion plans.

"The A320 is today's standard in the single-aisle market and through our continuous innovations we are strengthening the aircraft's leadership position for the future," he added.

"The A320 is better by design and still keeps getting better," Leahy said.

Eco-efficiency

"With its choice, Yemenia will benefit from Airbus's family concept which highlights eco-efficiency and streamlines maintenance and operations," Alawaji said. Yemenia's fleet consists of 7 Airbus and 4 Boeing 737-800.

Meanwhile, Alawaji revealed that a third party will handle the investigation of the Yemenia aircraft crash at Al Comoros as part of the investigation.

Yemen warned in July that it might reconsider its order after accusing France of not being "cooperative" over the crash of one of its Airbus A310s off the Indian Ocean archipelago of Comoros which killed 152 people.