Order Includes 22 A350 XWBs

US Airways announced Friday the Tempe, AZ-based airline has firmed up a contract signed in June for the purchase of 92 Airbus aircraft -- including 18 A350-800s, 4 A350-900s, 10 A330-200s, and 60 A320 Family planes.

The airline is slated to receive its first A350 in 2014, with deliveries running through 2017. Delivery dates for the newly ordered A330s run from 2009 through 2010. The A320 Family order is comprised of 10 A321s, 40 A320s and 10 A319s, with conversion rights within the A320 Family.

Combined with US Airways' current 37-plane backlog for Airbus narrowbodies, the new A320 order means the European planemaker will take deliveries of new A320-type planes through 2012.

"Both the A320 Family and A330 have served us very well, and we look forward to capitalizing on the advantages the A350 XWB will add to our fleet," said Doug Parker, Chairman and CEO of US Airways. "The combination of range, comfort and economics all these aircraft feature will offer our passengers the ideal service they have come to expect from US Airways." Both America West and US Airways took delivery of their first A320 Family aircraft in 1998. Since that time, and since the airlines have joined forces under the US Airways brand, the airline has become the largest airline customer for Airbus in terms of aircraft ordered and aircraft operated.

"This order is a clear endorsement of every member of our twin-engine product line," said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. "These aircraft work hard for the airline, and have the right balance of characteristics to please our customer and their customers. With the A350 being a major part of this contract, we're very happy US Airways has decided to expand its fleet types in parallel with the evolution of the Airbus product line."

FMI: www.usairways.com, www.airbus.com