Canada Jetlines is to lease two Airbus A320s from AerCap, with the aircraft to be delivered to the ultra-low fare start-up during the first half of 2019.
A definitive lease agreement for the pair of 12-year-old aircraft was signed and effective as of 12 June with the world’s largest independent aircraft lessor.
The Canadian airline’s incoming CEO, Lukas Johnson, said: “AerCap has a proven reputation of leasing high-quality aircraft and we look forward to continuing to build a positive relationship with them. Through my experience with Airbus, I believe that these planes are the right aircraft to commence operations with. The majority of ultra-low cost carriers worldwide operate with the Airbus A320 fleet based on its fuel-efficient narrow-body framework that supports a high-density seat configuration.”
Jetlines’ executive chairman, Mark Morabito, said the carrier is now “positioned to carry out the remainder of work to complete our licencing process and that we are continuing to advance our financing initiatives, personnel recruitment, and airport agreements.”
A pre-existing purchase agreement with Boeing for B737 MAX aircraft for delivery in 2023 remains in place, says the airline. The carrier plans to use the Airbus aircraft to support its start-up operations and is not limited from securing a Boeing fleet in future, should it decide to do so, it stressed.
AerCap’s president and chief commercial officer, Philip Scruggs, said, “We are very pleased to welcome our new customer airline, Jetlines, and particularly pleased to play a role in the start-up of their new operations. We wish the board and management team every success and we look forward to working with the Jetlines team as they begin operations.”
