The first African airline to operate the A321neo is EGYPTAIR, which received its first one from the Airbus Delivery Center in Hamburg.
With 16 Business Class seats and 166 Economy Class seats, EGYPTAIR has requested a high comfort, two-class configuration that will increase the airline’s single aisle capacity to the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. The aircraft is powered by CFM engines and is leased from AerCap.
The A321neo, the largest-fuselage member of Airbus’ best-selling single-aisle A320 Family, offers a 20 percent reduction in fuel consumption and emissions per seat when compared to rival aircraft of a prior generation. As a result, EGYPTAIR can experience increased efficiency, fulfill its commitment to sustainability, and cut operational expenses.
EGYPTAIR’s Airbus fleet now consists of 12 A220s, 8 A320neos, 2 A320ceos, 4 A330-200s, and 4 A330-300s. By bringing on the A321neo, EGYPTAIR is displaying its ongoing desire to increase the size of its Airbus fleet in order to keep up with demand now and in the future.
Airbus’ distinctive strategy ensures that all of its aircraft families have the maximum level of commonality in their airframes, on-board equipment, cockpits, and handling characteristics. As a result, operating expenses are greatly decreased, and airline profitability is increased.
34 percent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blend was used to power the delivery flight from Hamburg to Cairo. SAF is an aviation fuel that is generated responsibly using waste products such leftover cooking oil, grease, and fat as well as municipal and forestry waste. SAF has been shown to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80% over the course of its full lifecycle when compared to fossil jet fuel. As a result, it is seen as a crucial enabler for helping to decarbonize aircraft.
All Airbus commercial aircraft can already fly with up to 50% SAF blended with kerosene, and by the end of this decade, it is planned that all Airbus commercial aircraft will be able to fly with 100% SAF. Airbus has successfully completed 100% SAF test flights on the A319neo, A350, and A380 aircraft since March 2021.
