Donbassaero becomes new Airbus operator in CIS

Donbassaero Airlines, one of the leading Ukrainian carriers, took delivery its first Western-built aircraft into its fleet, an Airbus A320, herewith joining to the other 230 operators of Airbus aircraft worldwide. The Donetsk-based airline, which will operate the aircraft under an operational lease agreement, also becomes the sixth operator of the A320 Family aircraft in the CIS.

Donbassaero’s A320 offers a spacious, comfortable single-class layout, which can accommodate 156 passengers. The airline is going to re-configure its A320 into two-class layout later this year. The aircraft is powered by CFM56-5 engines from CFM International. The airline will operate the A320 on its international routes from Donetsk airport to Istanbul, Antalya, Aleppo, Beirut, Dubai, Munich, Erevan and Baku as well as on a domestic route between Donetsk and the Ukrainian capital Kiev.

The A320 is the flagship of Airbus’ popular fly-by-wire single-aisle family, which also includes the A318, the A319 and A321 and ranges in capacity from 100-200 seats. All these aircraft share the same airframe – only the fuselage lengths are different – as well as the same cockpits, systems and engines, delivering unmatched operational commonality and savings to airlines. Widely accepted as the industry standard, the best–selling Airbus A320 Family offers a variety of seating configurations that allow for a customized layout to meet every airlines’ needs. It has great economics, low maintenance costs and a superior range.

According to numerous independent surveys, passengers prefer the greater space and comfort offered by the A320 Family cabin including wider seats, while its modern design and attractive economics make it a firm favorite with airlines and financiers, a fact that is endorsed by its figures. Firm orders for the A320 Family stand at almost 3,500, more than 2,400 of which have been delivered to more than 190 customers and operators around the world.

All Airbus passenger aircraft in production today including the A320 Family enjoy advanced features such as weight-saving composite structures, fuel-saving aerodynamic design that includes wingtip fences, and pilot and mechanic-friendly cockpits, flying controls and systems. These technological benefits come as standard across the Airbus fleet, at no extra charge.

Airbus is a leading aircraft manufacturer with the most modern and comprehensive family of airliners on the market. It has delivered over 3,800 aircraft to more than 270 customers and operators world-wide, and boasts a healthy order book of over 1,500 aircraft for delivery over the coming years. With an annual turnover of over 20 billion Euro in 2004, Airbus is a global company with design and manufacturing facilities in France, Germany, the UK, and Spain as well as subsidiaries in the U.S., China and Japan. Headquartered in Toulouse, France, Airbus is an EADS joint Company with BAE Systems.

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