EgyptAir pursues further fleet modernisation

AerCap announced 2 deals Wednesday to largely complete the renewal of EgyptAir’s equipment inventory. The carrier is to take long-term operating leases on 15 Airbus A320neo narrowbodies and 6 Boeing 787-9 widebodies. The A320neos will be delivered in 2020 and be powered by CFM International LEAP-1A engines, while the 787-9s will arrive in 2019 and have Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. Both leasing deals were announced at the Dubai Air Show and followed on the heels of Nov 14’s LOI from EgyptAir for up to 24 Bombardier CS300s for its EgyptAir Express domestic and regional subsidiary. EgyptAir Holding chairman and CE Safwat Musallam said the airline’s studies forecast a rise in traffic in both Egypt and across the Middle East and that it was looking to renew its fleet with more efficient aircraft. <br/>