New York-based JetBlue Airways has amended its purchase agreement with Airbus to include an additional 15 Airbus A321ceo (current engine option) and 15 A321neo (new engine option) aircraft.  The airline, which already operates A321s, has not yet announced its engine selection for the newly ordered aircraft.  Beginning in 2019, JetBlue has the flexibility to configure the New Engine Option aircraft to the Longer Range version of the A321 – the A321LR.

“Airbus has been our partner since the beginning, and we are proud that our partnership continues today,” said Robin Hayes, president and CEO, JetBlue. “The A321 is an incredible aircraft that is delivering results for our business. We intend to deploy many of these aircraft to expand our successful Mint experience and our west coast presence.”

Many of JetBlue’s newly ordered A321 aircraft are expected to be delivered from Airbus’ newest manufacturing facility in Mobile, Alabama.  The first aircraft to be produced at Airbus’ U.S. Manufacturing Facility – a JetBlue A321 known as “BluesMobile” – is on public display today at the EAA AirVenture air show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.  BluesMobile was delivered to the airline and entered service this spring.

“When we decided to build an assembly line in the U.S., we did it to help meet the increasing demand from our U.S. customers,” said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer – Customers. “The A320 Family is a market leader worldwide – one that has found particularly great success in the United States because of its economics, efficiency and comfort. We look forward to delivering more and more aircraft from our U.S. facility to our customers here in America.”

JetBlue currently operates a fleet of 160 A320 Family aircraft, including 130 A320s and 30 A321s. Including the order announced today, the airline’s backlog of Airbus aircraft comprises 116 planes: 25 A320neo, 31 A321ceo, and 60 A321neo aircraft.

Airbus press release