Italian Airline Air One orders 24 Airbus A350s and A330s plus 20 Options

The fast-growing Italian airline, Air One, has signed a firm order with Airbus for 12 A350-800s, plus 12 options, and 12 A330-200s, plus 8 options. The Rome based airline will use these aircraft to develop a comprehensive long-haul route network, which will complement Air One's extensive domestic and European operations.

With this contract, Air One now has a total of 24 widebody aircraft on order with Airbus (plus 20 options), as well a global agreement for 90 A320 aircraft of which 65 A320s are firm orders and the remaining 25 are to be gradually firmed up.

Air One's newly ordered A330s will be configured in a two-class cabin layout for 253 passengers. The A350-800 will also have a two-class cabin but will be able to seat up to 287 passengers.

Carlo Toto, President of Air One, said, "The purchase of 24 Airbus wide-body long range aircraft is a key element in our company's growth strategy, with a view to achieving major developments in the intercontinental market over the next few years. The A330s will give us the best economics and passenger comfort in the medium term, with the A350 providing us with the most efficient and modern aircraft family at the next stage of our growth plans. In addition, the commonality of those long range aircraft with our growing A320 fleet in operation brings important savings and benefits."

The A350 XWB (Xtra Wide-Body) Family is Airbus' response to Boeing's 787 Dreamliner and market demand for a series of highly efficient medium-capacity long-range wide-body aircraft. With a range of up to 8,300 nm / 15,400 km, it is available in three basic passenger versions: the A350-800 accommodating 270 passengers, the A350-900 seating 314, and the A350-1000 for 350 passengers. The A350 is powered by two new generation Rolls Royce Trent XWB engines delivering each up to 92,000 lbs of thrust. This latest contract brings the total firm orders for the A350 to 374 from 23 customers.

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