Jet Airways to acquire Ten Airbus A330-200s/300s

Indian private carrier Jet Airways is to acquire ten Airbus A330-200s/-300s and has taken options on ten more. Deliveries are due to begin as early as the first quarter of 2007, but Jet Airways will become the first Indian operator of the Airbus A330 even sooner, in May 2006, when it takes delivery of the first of several aircraft leased from ILFC.

Jet Airways plans to use its Airbus A330s on a mix of domestic, regional and international flights. Each aircraft will seat 226 passengers, with luxurious six-abreast flat-bed seating in business, and a comfortable eight-abreast layout in economy. 

“Only the Airbus A330 has the versatility to be economic on short, medium and long-haul services,“ said Jet Airways Chairman Naresh Goyal. “Airbus’ A330 has exceptional cabin comfort and style, modern design and proven reliability, and excellent economics - just what we need as Jet Airways goes global.”

“Jet Airways has been instrumental in introducing new standards of passenger service and competition within India, so we take it as a compliment that it has chosen Airbus aircraft as it makes its first major expansion into both widebody aircraft and long-haul services,” says Airbus President and CEO Noël Forgeard.

The A330 and A340 feature a common cockpit, which simplifies and reduces training and which, depending on the mix of different aircraft types, can be worth a saving of as much as one million dollars a year.

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