MONTREAL, June 27, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Transat,
wholly-owned business unit of Transat A.T. Inc., has signed an
agreement with AerCap for the long-term lease of seven new Airbus
aircraft: two A321neos and five A321neo LRs (long-range). These
next-generation, single-aisle jets, which will be delivered
gradually between 2020 and 2022, will notably replace wide-body
A330s whose leases will expire during this period.
"We are continuing our fleet transformation in order to achieve
greater efficiency and versatility," said Jean-François Lemay,
President of Air Transat. "With their smaller size, the A321neos
will enable us to implement our air strategy, which involves
increasing our flight frequencies, expanding our network and
strengthening our position in several markets. The goal: continue
to provide our customers with comfortable service at the best
possible price."
With 199 seats in a two-class configuration, the A321neo will be
used for feeder flights and service to the South (short- and
medium-haul) while the long-range version (A321neo LR) will be
deployed for Sun and transatlantic destinations (medium- and
long-haul). These aircraft will be added to the 10 new A321neo LRs,
on lease from AerCap, announced in July
2017, which will gradually be introduced to Air Transat's
fleet starting in spring 2019.
While this type of aircraft has been selected to optimize the
fleet, its fuel efficiency will also keep cost per seat as low as
possible, while reducing its carbon footprint. Additionally,
because of the cockpit commonality of the A330 and A320 (including
the A321), Air Transat's pilots will be able to fly both types of
aircraft, which will result in greater operating flexibility and
savings, including on training costs.
Air Transat's fleet currently consists of 33 permanent aircraft
in a unique flexible-fleet model that allows it to deploy more
wide-body aircraft in summer for the high transatlantic season, and
narrow-body aircraft in winter for the high Sun destinations
season. By 2024, it will have an all-Airbus fleet.
About Air Transat
Air Transat is Canada's number one holiday airline. It flies
to some 60 destinations in 26 countries in the Americas,
Europe and the Middle East, offers domestic and feeder
flights within Canada, and carries
nearly 4.5 million passengers every year. Based in Montreal, the company employs 3,000 people.
Air Transat is a business unit of Transat A.T. Inc., a leading
integrated international tourism company specializing in holiday
travel and offering vacation packages, hotel stays and air travel.
Transat was awarded Travelife Partner status in 2016 in
recognition of its commitment to sustainable development.
About Transat
Transat A.T. Inc. is a leading
integrated international tourism company specializing in holiday
travel. It offers vacation packages, hotel stays and air travel
under the Transat and Air Transat brands to some 60 destinations in
26 countries in the Americas, Europe and the Middle East. Based in Montreal, the company has 5,000 employees.
Transat is firmly committed to sustainable tourism development, as
reflected in its multiple corporate responsibility initiatives over
the past 10 years, and was awarded Travelife Partner status in 2016
(TSX: TRZ).
Recent distinctions and awards (2017–2018)
- Named world's second-best leisure airline and best in
North America at the Skytrax World
Airline Awards
- Ranked by Atmosfair among the world's Top 20 airlines for
energy efficiency
- Voted Best Leisure/Charter Airline and Best Tour Operator at
the Agents' Choice Awards presented by Baxter Travel Media
- Voted Best Airline and Best Tour Operator at the Trophées
Uni-Vers awards organized by the Association des Agents de Voyages
du Québec
- Ranked among Canada's Best
Employers and second-best airline on Forbes magazine's 2017
ranking
- Named one of the Best Corporate Citizens in Canada by Corporate Knights
About AerCap
AerCap is the global leader in aircraft
leasing with, as of March 31, 2018,
1,519 owned, managed or on order aircraft in its portfolio. AerCap
has one of the most attractive order books in the industry. AerCap
serves approximately 200 customers in approximately 80 countries
with comprehensive fleet solutions. AerCap is listed on the New
York Stock Exchange (AER) and has its headquarters in Dublin with offices in Shannon, Los
Angeles, Singapore,
Amsterdam, Fort Lauderdale, Shanghai, Abu
Dhabi, Seattle and
Toulouse.
SOURCE Transat A.T. Inc.