Hong Kong-based China Aircraft Leasing Company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to purchase 36 current generation A320s.
The deal, signed at the 2012 Farnborough International Airshow, includes eight A321s, the largest member of the A320 Family.
There is an option included for operators to select Airbus’ new fuel saving Sharklets.
Sharklets are new large wingtip devices measuring 2.5 metres tall which reduce fuel burn by around 3.5% over longer sectors.
This corresponds to an annual CO2 reduction of some 1,000 tonnes per aircraft. It is now being offered as an option for new-build A320 Family aircraft deliveries.
Sharklets also increase the A320 Family’s payload-range and improve take-off performance.
“This sizeable aircraft order will lay the foundation for CALC to achieve our ambition to become a major aircraft lessor in the region,” said Dr. Mike Poon, CEO of China Aircraft Leasing Company.
With this new commitment, China Aircraft Leasing Company’s Airbus fleet will grow to over 50.
The lessor currently owns a portfolio of 11 Airbus aircraft including five A320s, five A321s and one A330. It also has three A330s and five A320s aircraft in its delivery pipeline.
