Azal Azerbaijan Airlines has finalised a follow-up order with Airbus for 12 A320neo family aircraft. The deal signed in Baku on April 6, includes A320neo and A321neo models and comes barely three months after the carrier took delivery its first examples.

“We are pleased to continue mutually beneficial cooperation with Airbus on the modernization program of our fleet and intend to strengthen the bilateral partnership. The signed contract will provide our passengers with the most modern and comfortable single-aisle aircraft,” Azal’s first vice president Samir Rzayev said.

The commitment is the latest in a long-running relationship between Airbus and the Azerbaijani flag carrier, which took delivery of its first A319 in August 2005. It is one of a select few airlines to operate both the A340-500 and -600 variants, and today has 15 Airbus jets in its fleet including 4 A319s, 5 A320ceos and 3 A320neos.

Christian Scherer, Airbus chief commercial officer and head of international, added. “The A320neo Family continues to be a top choice for airlines looking for fuel-efficient and cost-effective fleet solutions. This order is a testament to the trust our customers have in the performance and reliability of our aircraft. We are confident that this choice will further boost the sustainable growth of Azerbaijan Airlines.”

The carrier is yet to provide a detailed breakdown of its order and is still to settle on an engine choice for its incoming aircraft but said they will be used to further develop its domestic and international route network.