AerCap Increases Airbus A330-200 Buy to 30 Aircraft

The Airbus A330-200, shown here in Star Airlines colors, is one of today's widely ordered and operated widebody types. Amsterdam-based aircraft leasing company AerCap has ordered another 10, just five months after placing an initial order for 20. Credit: Airbus S.A.S.

Leasing company AerCap has signed a firm contract with Airbus for an additional ten A330-200 widebody passenger jets, taking its total firm buy of the type to 30.

Amsterdam-based AerCap ordered 20 A330-200s last December.

AerCap, which was bought by affiliates of private investment firm Cerberus Capital Management in 2005 and was listed on the New York Stock Exchange on November 21, 2006, is an integrated global aviation company active in aircraft and engine leasing, trading and parts sales.

"Since AerCap ordered 20 new Airbus aircraft in December last year, we have already lined up customers for 13 out of the 20 aircraft, in only four months. The order for an additional 10 aircraft will help us to further expand our portfolio in the attractive market for modern, smaller widebody aircraft and to meet the demands of our global customer base," said Klaus Heinemann, AerCap's chief executive officer.

AerCap first ordered Airbus aircraft in 1999, placing an order for 32 A320-family narrowbody jets. Through a joint venture with Kuwait-based LoadAir, it followed the initial deal with an order for 70 more A320-family aircraft in December 2005. Then AerCap placed its first order for widebodies with the deal for 20 A330-200s in December 2006.

Airbus now claims orders for nearly 1,200 aircraft in its A330/A340/A350 widebody family, which is in service with or on order by 88 operators.

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