Wizz Air has taken delivery of its first of 184 A321neo aircraft on order at an event in Hamburg, with József Váradi, Wizz Air Chief Executive Officer and Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer.
The new generation aircraft is powered by two Pratt & Whitney GTF engines and features the widest single-aisle cabin with 239 seats in a single class configuration and offers operators maximum flexibility, fuel efficiency and low operating costs.
Wizz Air is an all-Airbus operator, with more than 100 A320 Family aircraft operating all around Europe, with 261 more to be delivered.
With 184 of the larger A321neo aircraft on order, Wizz Air is the largest Airbus customer worldwide of the type.
Speaking at the handover ceremony in Hamburg today, József Váradi, Wizz Air CEO, said:
“Today we approach a beginning of a new era in Wizz Air’s history. We are proud to welcome our first GTF-powered A321neo aircraft to our growing fleet – the first aircraft from the world’s largest single Airbus order. We are convinced that the A321neo will be game-changer aircraft for WIZZ, as we continue to grow at an industry-leading rate and expand our market reach across and beyond Europe. This next-step technology aircraft will enable us to become one of the greenest airlines while lowering our operating costs in the current macroeconomic environment, as we remain the lowest fare and lowest unit cost producer in Europe. Wizz Air will continue to stimulate demand for air travel in Central and Eastern Europe and beyond by offering the lowest fares to our customers, while still delivering a great customer experience onboard one of the youngest fleets.”
“We salute Wizz Air, our largest A321neo customer, for taking delivery of its first aircraft today,” said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer. “We’re proud to see our cost- and fuel-efficient A321neo so fundamental in accomplishing Wizz Air’s growth strategy,” he added.
“We truly appreciate the trust that Wizz Air has placed in our engines and services, and the strong relationship we have built together since the airline’s inception,” said Rick Deurloo, senior vice president of Sales, Marketing and Customer Support at Pratt & Whitney. “Today we are honoured to celebrate this special milestone and we are confident that the industry leading GTF technology will provide Wizz Air with fuel savings and environmental benefits for many years to come.”
“We at FPG Amentum are delighted to partner with WIZZ Air on the delivery of the airline’s first Neo aircraft. The occasion also marks FPG Amentum’s first Neo and brings the FPG Amentum and WIZZ Air relationship to seven aircraft in total. Furthermore, we very much look forward to deepening this valued and long-standing relationship in the near future,” said Eamonn Forbes, Chief Commercial Officer, FPG Amentum ”