Chilean low-cost carrier SKY has taken delivery of their first Airbus A320neo on Lease from Air Lease Corporation, becoming the first operator of the aircraft type in Chile. The aircraft can accommodate 238 passengers in 2 classes and is powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines.
On Tuesday (July 27, 2021), Airbus announced the delivery of the first Airbus A321neo to Chiles low-cost carrier SKY on lease from Air Lease Corporation (ALC). SKY becomes the first airline in Chile to operate the aircraft type, as well as the first South American airline to operate the A321neo with a high density cabin configuration. The aircraft has been configured in a 238-passenger two class layout and is powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines. With a 95 percent airframe commonality with the A320 Family, the new A321neo fits seamlessly into Sky’s existing fleet of A320neos. SKY has been an all Airbus operator since 2013 and the new aircraft will allow the carrier to further expand their route offering in South America.
In a separate announcement on Monday (July 26, 2021), Air Lease Corporation’s Assistant Vice President of Marketing, Matthew Stevens, said,
“ALC is pleased to deliver this new Airbus A321neo aircraft to SKY and be the first to introduce the aircraft to the airline and country of Chile. It is a privilege to work with SKY, and we believe this next generation aircraft will positively contribute to the airline’s sustainability and fleet operations.”
The Airbus A321neo incorporates new generation engines and sharklets which deliver a fuel burn reduction of over 20 percent, reduced CO2 emissions and a 50 percent reduction in noise footprint. To date, Airbus has sold over 1,100 of the aircraft type and has a backlog of nearly 430 aircraft for delivery in Latin America and the Caribbean. Currently, over 660 of the aircraft are in operation in the region, representing a market share of around 60 percent of the in-service fleet.
Based in Los Angeles, California, Air Lease Corporation (NYSE: AL) is a leading global aircraft leasing company. The ALC team is principally involved in the purchase of commercial aircraft and leasing them to airlines worldwide with customized leasing and financing solutions.
Source(s): Airbus, Air Lease Corporation