Germanwings, Germany’s leading low-cost carrier, has confirmed that it signed a letter of intent at the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget on Thursday for 18 new Airbus A319’s.Ê The low-cost carrier also negotiated an option for a further 12 aircraft, signalling that the airline will continue it’s aggressive expansion plans going forward.Ê The Airbus A 319 aircraft, each with 156 seats, will be supplied from 2006 onwards.
Dr. Joachim Klein, chairman of the board of Germanwings, said: “In this configuration, the Airbus A 319 is the ideal aircraft type for our business model and will help Germanwings maintain an optimum cost structure.Ê The Airbus A 319 is the most modern aircraft in its class and is also one of the most economic to run.

“With this new order, we have secured our long-term fleet planning and simultaneously ensured that we will be able to continue to offer our customers favourable ticket prices as we grow.”

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During its two-and-a-half years in operations, Germanwings has expanded it’s network and schedule across Europe.Ê As Germanwings takes possession of the new aircraft, the airline plans to continue an aggressive growth strategy.

Germanwings recently announced that it had opened its third base, at Berlin-Schönefeld, and has already stated that it intends to open up a fourth base later this year.Ê Germanwings estimates that it will carry more than five million passengers in 2005 and achieve more than 350 million euros turnover.
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