Aer Lingus to expand long-haul fleet with new planes

Aer Lingus owner International Airlines Group (IAG) has said it is to provide the Irish airline with two new planes to enable it to expand its long-haul fleet.

IAG said it plans to convert a number of long-haul aircraft options into firm orders for both Aer Lingus and its Spanish counterpart Iberia.

Aer Lingus will receive two Airbus 330-300, which had a list price of $207 million in early 2010, next year. Iberia will receive two A330-2000 aircraft between 2017 and 2018.

IAG, which is the parent company of Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia and Vueling, said the modern, fuel efficient aircraft would bring both cost efficiencies and environmental benefits to the airlines.

The A330 options were first announced in September 2014.

IAG said it had also converted 15 Airbus 320neo options, which were first announced in August 2013, into firm orders. The aircraft will be delivered between 2018 and 2021 and can be used by any airline in the group for fleet replacement.

Results published last Friday show Aer Lingus recorded an operating profit of €45 million in the period since joining IAG in mid-August with the airline being described by chief executive Willie Walsh as "a great asset".

The Irish airline contributed 1.6 points of IAG’s capacity increase and generated €262 million in revenues .