Low-fare airline Allegiant has welcomed its first US-produced A320 aircraft from the Airbus US manufacturing facility in Mobile, Alabama.
The aircraft is the 11th of 13 new A320 aircraft scheduled for purchase directly from Airbus, to be inducted into Allegiant’s fleet this year. Previously inducted aircraft have been assembled in Airbus facilities in Toulouse, France and Hamburg, Germany.
The company say this delivery marks a key step in Allegiant’s planned transition to a single fleet type by the end of 2018. Allegiant currently has a total of 99 Airbus aircraft either in service or committed for future delivery.
“It’s exciting to see the progress we’ve made in our transition to an all-Airbus fleet, and gratifying to be able to celebrate this special milestone with team members whose hard work and dedication have made it possible,” said Maury Gallagher, Allegiant president and CEO.
Gallagher continued: “Operating a single fleet type will increase efficiency in teams across the company – including training, scheduling, and maintenance – while bringing economic benefits like greater fuel efficiency and additional seat capacity. Since we began, Allegiant has flown more than 80 million passengers, and our transition to a streamlined fleet will allow us to continue offering increasingly reliable, convenient travel at industry-low fares to our next 80 million.”
Bob Lekites, executive vice-president-customers, Airbus Americas said the company are proud to deliver Allegiant their first Airbus aircraft manufactured in Mobile, adding: “Our partnership with Allegiant Air, coupled with our commitment to producing innovative aircraft, has allowed Allegiant to expand their ultra-low cost consumer flight options.”
