Airbus Confirms Big Order

Abra Group has confirmed a substantial strengthening of its operations with another order extension with Airbus.

The Group, which acts as the parent company to the likes of GOL, Wamos, and Avianca, will add seven A330-900s from the A330neo family on a lease and firm up options for 50 A320neo jets from Airbus.

For Abra Group, these additional purchases, especially for the Airbus A320neo program, complement the existing 88 for the business, bringing the total to 138 for the single-aisle program. This program will play a crucial role across many airlines within the Group moving forward.

These new purchases, especially for the A320neo, will complement Abra Group’s existing commitment to the 737 MAX, which includes 96 orders scheduled for delivery.

By the 2030s, therefore, the narrowbody program will undergo a major overhaul, with not just renewal but also growth, as the portfolio expands to over 200 aircraft and enables greater connectivity on short- to medium-haul markets moving forward.

This announcement confirms that we continue to make the necessary investments aligned with our commitment to provide millions of people with greater access to air travel, consolidating our position as one of the largest and most competitive airline groups in Latin America. Our incremental A320neo order ensures the replacement and growth needs of our current narrowbody fleet. It also strengthens our international growth strategy to better connect Latin America with itself and the world through a more efficient fleet.

Adrian Neuhauser, CEO of Abra

Abra is hopeful that the first A320neo, equipped with the Airspace cabin, will arrive towards the end of this year, with plans to integrate this into the Avianca business moving forward as well.

The Airbus Long-Haul Aspect

For the Abra Group, the purchase of the Airbus A330neo is crucial for enhancing long-haul connectivity in the future.

While the end destination for the aircraft has yet to be determined at this stage, Abra Group confirms that it’ll be operated in accordance with market-driven operational and financial opportunities when it is ready to be integrated.

The A330neo can reduce fuel consumption by 14% per seat compared to the previous model, the A330ceo. Additionally, it can cut airport noise pollution by 60%.

For Airbus, the A330neo was launched as a means to counter Boeing’s sales of the 787, which at the time was leading the market as airlines sought to evolve their commitment to next-generation jets.

While the A330neo was a smaller investment than the clean sheet of the 787 and was never going to attract the same amount of interest, across recent times, the aircraft has certainly seen its backlog increase

The A330neo was also launched at a point where most airlines were not seeking to replace their A330ceo models. With that now a bigger reality, the A330neo presents a replacement case that many airlines and or their respective groups are looking to act on.