Budget airline to unveil new fleet
Wednesday December 09 2009
Passengers at Belfast International are to board the first of a fleet of new airliners that are to start operating from the airport.
Those travelling to Amsterdam and Luton will take off in one of the Airbus 319s that easyJet has purchased.
The budget airline has bought the five planes to replace the Boeing 737s it currently flies from Aldergrove.
The first airbus will begin flying passengers on Thursday, with the other four being phased in over the winter. A sixth 319 will operate from the Belfast base from the end of March next year.
The 319 - one of the aircraft in the Airbus 320 family - has 156 seats, compared with the 149 seats on the Boeing 737.
EasyJet said it is one of the most environmentally efficient aircraft available.
Paul Simmons, the airline's regional general manager for the UK, said: "The A320 family is recognised as the benchmark single-aisle aircraft family.
"More than 6,400 A320 aircraft have been sold to more than 300 customers and operators worldwide, making it the world's best-selling commercial jetliner ever.
"We are delighted to have brought this new Airbus experience to Belfast. We know that the aircraft will be appreciated by both business and leisure travellers and that our position as Northern Ireland's favourite airline will be further consolidated."
