Agrees To Terms On Five-Plane Deal; Signs LOI With ILFC For Two More

US Airways announced Tuesday the carrier has agreed to terms with Airbus S.A.S. for the order of five additional long-range wide-body A330-200 aircraft, and entered into a letter of intent with International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) for the lease of two A330-200s.

The additional aircraft will bolster the airline's international growth plans of adding approximately three to four new markets per year between 2009 and 2011.

US Airways expects to take delivery of the five new aircraft from Airbus through 2011, and receive the two aircraft from ILFC in 2009. Combined with the 10 A330-200s currently on order from Airbus, US Airways' A330-200 fleet will grow to 17 by 2011.

US Airways currently operates nine wide-body Airbus A330-300s, that share fleet commonality with the A330-200s.

"The A330-200 with its superior range relative to our existing fleet will allow US Airways to continue international expansion to new destinations across the globe from the Pacific to the Atlantic," said Doug Parker, chairman and CEO of US Airways. "We intend to use the A330s to expand our existing gateways as well as provide the potential to eventually add intercontinental service from our west coast hubs."

US Airways is the fifth largest domestic airline, employing more than 36,000 workers worldwide.

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