Azul Orders More Airbus A330neos

Airbus has secured orders from Brazil’s Azul Linhas Aéreas for four A330neos.

A deal was previously signed as a purchase agreement in June 2023. However, now, thanks to a release, the deal has been made firm.

Airbus’s chief commercial officer says Azul will be able to leverage the full potential of the commonality seen between the A320 and A330 aircraft families.

Additionally, passengers will enjoy the fantastic offering of the A330neo for long-haul flights on a network that is continuing to grow for Azul.

The expectation is deliveries will begin in 2026 with a view for these additional A330neos to allow for more cities worldwide to be conected with Brazil.

Analysing The Airbus A330neo Performance

Despite a recent commitment from Azul for four additional Airbus A330neos, many would argue that the series has ultimately been a poor seller.

In 2023, the A330-800, the smaller variant of the two offered, secured just one lone order from a private customer and has largely struggled to obtain any interest.

While the A330-900 has secured more commitments, it has also struggled to attract firm interest in the same manner as the A330ceo.

Some analysts would argue that the industry landscape was very different due to the ever-evolving industry and when the A330ceo was released.

However, others would argue that the A330neos intended competitor, the 787, is a more complete option for customers. Additionally, its headstart in the market is invaluable.

Despite a poor sales record, analysts also argue that the low development costs of the Airbus A330neo mean that it doesn’t require thousands of orders to break even. However, despite that, there would be arguments that it has underperformed since its launch.

Comments From Executives

We are proud to announce this order, as it confirms Azul as the airline with the most fuel- efficient fleet in the region, with over 80% of our capacity coming from next-generation aircraft. With the five A330neos we currently operate and the seven we now have on order, we will standardize our international fleet, allowing us to further enhance Azul’s renowned customer experience and on-time performance.

Alexandre Malfitani, Azul’s Chief Financial Officer.

Azul’s re-confirmed confidence in the A330neo underscores once again, that the A330neo’s economics and performance are making a true difference in Azul’s widebody strategy, coming out on top of the competition.

Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International.

The Azul Fleet

Azul operates a fleet of 151 in-service aircraft with 19 units listed as in storage. As a result, the total combined fleet sits at 170 aircraft.

When measured by active units, the carrier’s most significant fleet type is the A320 series, where it flies the A320neo. Additionally, operations with the ERJ-195 are a popular regional option for the carrier.

Data indicates that Azul already flies the A330neo with 5 units in service, all from the -900 variant. Meanwhile, 4 A330-200s are also present, averaging 21.2 years.