from BBC News online
Monday, 14 October, 2002, 07:04 GMT 08:04 UK
Easyjet ditches Boeing for Airbus
No-frills airline Easyjet is switching its allegiance from the US plane maker Boeing to Europe’s Airbus.
The low-cost carrier has announced that it has chosen Airbus as its preferred supplier for 120 A319 aircraft with an option to buy 120 more planes at the same price.
The aircraft manufacturer now has 45 days to finalise the deal.
Easyjet said it is making the switch to save money.
Intense competition
At the moment, the airline uses only Boeing 737s, but the company said that it would achieve “substantial savings” by ordering the Airbus planes rather than extra Boeing 737-700s.
Easyjet said the deal would also mean a 10% saving on the cost of running its aircraft.
The company’s chief executive Ray Webster said it placed its order after several rounds of negotiations with both Airbus and Boeing.
He said one of the key elements of the deal was that Airbus was willing to support the costs of introducing its aircraft into the Easyjet fleet, so that it would not cost the airline any more to run a dual fleet.
“Airbus has demonstrated an enthusiasm to do business with us which is unmatched in my experience,” Mr Webster said.
The company’s chairman Stelios Haji-Ioannou said: “At the end of the day ‘low cost’ companies remain ‘low cost’ by not wasting money.
“Sticking to old-fashioned fads like ‘low cost airlines only fly Boeing’ does not reduce costs.”
He said that because the market was now so competitive, Easyjet was paying approximately 30% per seat below the prices, adjusted for inflation, that it paid for its 15 Boeing 737-700s.
By: Ren Frew - 24th October 2002 at 09:13
RE: easyjet select A319!
Is it true that that lead vocalist from UK heavy metal band Iron Maiden Bruce Dickinson, is now a qualified 1st officer and flying for Easyjet ?
I’m sure I read that somewhere.
By: wysiwyg - 24th October 2002 at 07:53
RE: easyjet select A319!
You’re right Andrew, they will need 3 cabin crew (same as the 737) as long as they have 150 seats or less. By the way, the info about reducing the galleys came from inside easyJet!
By: andrewm - 23rd October 2002 at 23:07
RE: easyjet select A319!
They need one small galley at front for two trolleys and coffee machine etc. They could definetly squeze a few more seats in.
I bet there will be no toilet at the back.
This would create at least 6 seats at the back but that means it looks like reduced to a crew of 2 if they took all facilities out at the back. I think u need a minimum of 3 for a 150 seater under CAA law so there will probably be a double seat at the back of the aircraft rite beside the door just.
LOL on another forum a guy has sucessfully painted an easyJet A320, a real version in real life!!
By: wysiwyg - 23rd October 2002 at 22:02
RE: easyjet select A319!
Yes but they don’t need the galleys, so that is where the extra space can come from.
By: Hand87_5 - 23rd October 2002 at 15:09
RE: easyjet select A319!
One thing that I just realized.
Easyjet chose the A319 in a configuration 150 seats (up to 156 they said);
Jee , gonna be squeezed since airbus datasheet give the A319 for 110-145 seats configuration …
By: andrewm - 16th October 2002 at 20:43
RE: easyjet select A319!
I wonder if easyJet will every buy Boeings again along with airbus but any more orders wont be seen until 2005 when all their aircraft come off the line. I would be in favour of them expanding into the A320 or A321 as they say they have amazing set low prices on the whole family! Airbus get my vote for furture sales unless boeing offer a 2 for 1 on all aircraft!!
By: andrewm - 16th October 2002 at 20:41
RE: easyjet select A319!
I know its fact about shares but is rumor abotu Boeing having shares but it is stll a very strong lead by pilots!
By: wysiwyg - 16th October 2002 at 10:34
RE: easyjet select A319!
I wouldn’t be too interested in airstairs If it were my decision. It would be a lot cheaper to leave a few sets of steps at each destination than have to cart them around with you as part of the airframe. It’s not as if easyJet are operating out in the bundu! The weight of those steps must be equal to at least 2 passengers for an airline that wants to get as many seats on as possible. That represents lost revenue by having the steps.
By: EGNM - 15th October 2002 at 21:29
RE: easyjet select A319!
Its not a rumour – it’s a fact that the shares went down
By: andrewm - 15th October 2002 at 18:03
RE: easyjet select A319!
There is a major rumour going around easyJet pilots saying that easyJet’s shares went down 13.5p because Boeing withdrew shares they had in the company.
Seems wierd but believable!
By: dan330 - 15th October 2002 at 17:00
RE: easyjet select A319!
Great news for Airbus! By the sounds of it Airbus must have given easyjet a fantastic deal, cheap aircraft plus all the assistance they are getting to make sure everything goes smoothly.
Its great to see Airbus making strides into the low cost area, its he one area they’ve struggled in.
Can’t wait to see the first easyjet A319!
By: Saab 2000 - 15th October 2002 at 16:13
RE: easyjet select A319!
As MapleLeaf_330 said,the 737 has dominated the low cost market since it came about.This order shows that Airbus can offer as gooder product as Boeing for low cost operations.Airlines that use Airbus aircraft are:
JetBlue
Tango
Goodjet
Frontier
German Wings
And now Easyjet
This order by EZY is the largest by a low cost airline for Airbus and is most probably going to give Airbus a bigger share on the low cost market,which they have been wanting.
Easyjet said that Airbus offered them a better product in their opinion:
*EasyJet estimates substantial savings, compared to buying additional B737-700s today.
*EasyJet estimates the A319 would achieve an approximate 10% improvement per aircraft over the existing Boeing 737 operating cost base (measured per available seat kilometre)
*Airbus to provide extensive support so that the introduction of the A319 to be no more expensive than the B737-700 in the first two years.
*Airbus backed maintenance program means cost not higher than Boeing.
*Airbus assistance reduces residual value risk on remaining 10 owned B737-300s.
By: MapleLeaf_330 - 15th October 2002 at 16:00
RE: easyjet select A319!
I thought they might go with Airbus, just a hunch I guess.
Boeing dominated for decades and I firmly believe that competition is a plus. Also, Boeing has Ryan Air and Southwest, so they still have a firm grasp on the low frills market.
Question: does the A319 have air stairs? Curious.
By: KabirT - 15th October 2002 at 04:53
RE: easyjet select A319!
wow that was unexpected…atleast for me. Anyway this is not good news for Boeing.
By: A330Crazy - 14th October 2002 at 20:36
RE: easyjet select A319!
I am glad that they selected the A319, as it does bring a little variation into the fleet. 🙂 Airbus still going good and strong, seems to be a trend. 😛
By: EGNM - 14th October 2002 at 17:06
RE: easyjet select A319!
A pritty darn quick intro then!!
By: carl727 - 14th October 2002 at 16:15
RE: easyjet select A319!
I understand that they will be introduced intially via Easyjet’s Swiss base in Geneva from Aug 2003.
By: Saab 2000 - 14th October 2002 at 15:33
RE: easyjet select A319!
At last the waiting is over!
Great news for European aviation though its quite a blow for Boeing. Airbus must of given EZY an offer they couldn’t refuse.
I wish them all the luck with the A319.
By: MINIDOH - 14th October 2002 at 14:28
RE: easyjet select A319!
NO!!! BOO HOO! I hate fly by wire.
Dammit.
By: T5 - 14th October 2002 at 14:09
RE: easyjet select A319!
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 14-10-02 AT 02:10 PM (GMT)]It’ll be great to some variation to the easyJet fleet – definitely something to look forward to 😛
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October 14, 2002 at 11:28 am
