Riyadh based National Air Services (NAS) has signed a firm contract to buy 20 Airbus A320 Family aircraft for the company’s budget airline arm, nasair, following an earlier agreement signed at the 47th International Paris Air Show in Le Bourget. The agreement includes 18 purchase rights.
nasair is the first budget airline in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and began services in February 2007. The carrier now flies to 21 domestic destinations.
“The agreement with Airbus is strategic for NAS services to grow. Our new Airbus A320 family fleet will equip us to fulfil passenger demand using the most reliable, efficient and comfortable aircraft on the market,” said Taher Agueel, President, NAS.
National Air Service (NAS) is the leading provider of tailor made aviation services in the Middle East, covering the entire spectrum of travellers from the value conscious to the extreme luxury end of the market. In December, 2006, NAS was awarded the first commercial licence to fly domestic routes within Saudi Arabia and is ideally placed to offer international services in the near future.
NAS currently manages a fleet of over 47 aircraft. Six of these are Airbus A320 Family aircraft. All the new Airbus aircraft will be deployed to nasair. This order coupled with NAS’s other commitments for 60 corporate jets signed in 2007, will eventually grow the fleet to over 127 aircraft, making NAS one of the most dominant providers of private and commercial air services in the region.
“The market for air travel in the Middle East region is growing faster than world average levels, and it brings us great pleasure that National Air Services have chosen to grow with the Airbus A320 family. Our A320 aircraft family is the industry benchmark, with the roomiest cabin interior and unbeatably low operating costs”, said Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO.
The A320 Family, which includes the A318, A319, A320 and A321, is recognised as the benchmark single-aisle aircraft family. Each aircraft features fly by wire controls and all share unique cockpit commonality across the range. Over 5,450 Airbus A320 Family have been sold and over 3200 delivered to some 200 customers and operators worldwide, making it the worlds best selling commercial jetliner ever.
With proven reliability and extended servicing periods, the A320 Family have the lowest operating costs of any single aisle aircraft. In addition, the latest new cabin design saves on weight and offers the passenger a quieter and roomier experience as well as significantly larger overhead stowage lockers.
Photo: Airbus
