Aer Lingus to "stabilise" its long-haul fleet at eight aircraft until 2013

Aer Lingus Group and Airbus reached (04-Aug-09) an agreement that will allow Aer Lingus to stabilise its long-haul fleet at eight aircraft until 2013 and significantly reduce its capital commitments in the next three years. Details include:

• Revised Fleet Delivery Plan: Aer Lingus will take delivery of one new A330-300 as planned, in Apr-2010, but will adjust the delivery schedule of the following three A330s, and the first two A350s, with delivery scheduled over the period 2013 to 2015. Aer Lingus has negotiated this revised delivery schedule at no additional cost to the Group. In addition to future flexibility on deliveries, the pre-delivery payment schedule for A330s and A350s will be revised to reflect changes to the delivery schedule. These initiatives will reduce Aer Lingus' planned operating fleet to a maximum of eight aircraft in 2010;
• Early Termination of Leased Aircraft: Aer Lingus reached an agreement to reduce its current long-haul fleet through the early termination of existing lease agreements with respect to two A330 aircraft. An A330 will exit the fleet in Oct-2009 (18 months ahead of schedule) and a further A330 will exit the fleet in Mar-2010 (14 months ahead of schedule). This is in addition to the two leased A330s already returned during 2009;
• Aer Lingus Long Haul Fleet: A maximum of seven aircraft are planned to operate Aer Lingus long-haul services with a single aircraft available to invest in a Joint Venture with United Airlines to operate service between Washington and Madrid. [more at EuropeAviation.aero]