Algerian Flag Carrier Expands Fleet with Widebodies

Air Algérie, signed a firm order for 7 widebody aircraft with Airbus, adding another data point to a larger trend towards heavier, international aircraft.

The sale adds to the growing - but still minor - chorus of operators who are upending a few years of endless narrowbody orders, a perennial favorite in the industry owing to their lower operating costs and domestic profitability. Recent news of Emirate's decision to bring their A380 back into service supports the idea that the airline industry is hitting its stride once again.

The order will provide Air Algérie with 5 A330-900s, and 2 A350-1000s to "take full advantage of the flexibility of the Airbus product range" according to the manufacturer. The additions will allow the carrier to "strengthen its regional services and offer an ambitious plan for transcontinental destinations", offering passengers some of Airbus' best cabin design work. Optimized storage, in-flight entertainment, and connectivity make for a convenient and comfortable aircraft for long international flights, but Airbus is all too happy to point out a 25% drop in fuel burn and emissions.

The A330neo family has, despite the assumed costs associated with widebody aircraft, proven continuously popular on the market. As of Q1 close, 1,775 A330s were on order from more than 130 customers around the world. Equipped with a pair of modern Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, Air Algérie's future A330-900s are capable of flying 7,200 nm non-stop, meeting short/medium-haul needs with twin-engine running costs.

Their A350-1000s will be capable of 8,700 nm thanks to their current-gen Trent XWB engines. The widebody A350 has 967 firm orders on the books with 54 customers worldwide, numbers that make it "one of the most successful widebody aircraft ever" according to Airbus press (Not that there's a whole lot of competition).

FMI: www.airbus.com