EasyJet could look at buying more Airbus A321neo aircraft instead of smaller A320neos, the British carrier’s chief executive said on Wednesday, as the firm tries to reduce costs and increase capacity on busy European routes.

EasyJet announced last month that it had arranged to convert part of an Airbus order to larger planes to cut costs per seat, and was also postponing some orders of smaller planes as it reported a bigger-than-expected half year loss.

The low-cost airline took delivery of its first A320neo jet on Wednesday, its 300th plane, with new, more fuel efficient engines.

“A 15 pct reduction in fuel burn is relevant at any fuel price,” CEO Carolyn McCall said in Toulouse as the A320neo was delivered. She was referring to the fact fuel prices have fallen since the planes were ordered.

“We are able to take more A321neos in our framework but we haven’t as yet committed to taking any more… It will be on our radar as we go through the next 12-18 months”, she said.

EasyJet has already switched 30 of its 130 A320neo orders for larger A321neo’s, which seat an additional 49 passengers and are set to bring the cost per seat down by 8-9 percent compared with the smaller plane.

Reuters