Viva Air, the Latin America low cost carrier group owned by Irelandia Aviation, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus for 50 A320 Family aircraft, comprising 35 A320neo and 15 A320ceo. The agreement paves the way for the group"™s airlines VivaColombia and Viva Air Peru to base its fleet renewal and network growth on the A320 Family.
"Our customers are at the forefront of everything we do. This new fleet will allow us to continue leading the development of the low cost model throughout Latin America. We will be able to offer even lower fares thanks to further cost savings that these new aircraft will deliver," said William Shaw, CEO and Founder of VivaColombia, a Viva Air company.
"Airbus is proud that Irelandia is once again entrusting the A320 Family with Viva Air"™s growth and modernization strategy," said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. "Viva Air will be able to rely on the unmatched productivity and fuel efficiency of the A320neo to renew its growing fleet and expand its network in Latin America."
Viva Air recently launched Viva Air Peru, the sister airline of VivaColombia. Medellin-based VivaColombia operates nine A320 aircraft and Lima-based Viva Air Peru currently operates two, all with a capacity of 180 seats.
Viva Air is a Panamanian headquartered group created by Irelandia Aviation and led by Declan Ryan. Irelandia has successfully developed six low cost carriers around the world, namely Allegiant, Ryanair, Tigerair, VivaAerobus, VivaColombia and most recently Viva Air Peru. Combined, the airlines have a fleet of more than 420 aircraft and have carried over a billion passengers.
The A320 Family is the world"™s best-selling single aisle product line. To date, the Family has won over 13,000 orders and more than 7,600 aircraft have been delivered to some 400 customers and operators worldwide. With one aircraft in four sizes (A318, A319, A320 and A321), the A320 Family seats from 100 to 240 passengers. The Family features the widest cabin in the single aisle market with 18" wide seats in Economy as standard.
With over 1,000 aircraft sold and a backlog of nearly 450, almost 650 Airbus aircraft are in operation throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Since 1990, Airbus has secured over 60 percent of net orders in the region and in the past 10 years alone, Airbus has tripled its in-service fleet.
