Avianca orders 38 Airbus jets

AIRBUS workers in Wales yesterday received a boost in the form of an order for 38 of its planes.

The company, which employs 4,000 at its wing-making facility in Flintshire, has won a deal to renew the fleet of Colombia’s national flag carrier, Avianca.

Airbus received 38 firm orders – 33 A319s/A320s airliners and five A330-200s – and 32 options for the same models from the airline.

John Leahy, Airbus chief operating officer for customers, said, “We are extremely proud and honoured to have been selected by this historic and prestigious airline for its fleet renewal.”

German Efromovich, president of the Synergy Group which owns Avianca, said, “The A319s, A320s and A330s will offer our passengers the highest levels of travel comfort whilst allowing us to benefit from their unbeatable economics.”

Avianca is Colombia’s largest airline and is also the second oldest commercial airline in the world. Airbus has a fleet of 260 aircraft in operation in Latin America.

Since 1990 Airbus has taken 54% of all Latin American orders for new aircraft.

The company has tripled its presence in Latin America over the past seven years.

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