US Airways orders Airbus aircraft

US Airways recently signed a contract to acquire 92 Airbus aircraft, including 18 A350-800s, four A350-900s, 10 A330-200s, and 60 A320 Family aircraft.

The A320 Family order is comprised of 10 A321s, 40 A320s and 10 A319s with extensive conversion rights within the A320 Family. US Airways currently has a backlog of 37 orders for Airbus single-aisle aircraft and the latest A320 Family order will see deliveries run through 2012.

Delivery dates for the newly ordered A330s run from 2009 through 2010.

The airline is slated to receive its first A350 in 2014 with deliveries running through 2017.

‘The A350 XWB (Xtra Wide-Body) is Airbus’ response to market demand for a medium-capacity long-range widebody family,’ said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. ‘The A350 XWB confronts the challenges of high fuel prices, rising passenger expectations and increasing environmental concerns. Available from 2013, it has an entirely new, uncompromised, 21st Century design with a wider and taller fuselage for extra space and passenger comfort.’