Virgin Atlantic Airways Commits to 10 New Airbus A330s
Virgin Atlantic Airways announced today that it signed a $2.1 billion firm contract to buy six Airbus A330-300s and lease another four from Netherlands-bas

Virgin Atlantic Airways announced today that it signed a $2.1 billion firm contract to buy six Airbus A330-300s and lease another four from Netherlands-based lessor AerCap. The airline said it has financed all 10 deliveries via AerCap.

The airline plans to take delivery of the first five airplanes in 2011 and the balance of the order in 2012, ahead of the planned first delivery of Virgin Atlantic’s initial Boeing 787-9. It has placed a firm order for 15 of the Boeing types, but wants interim capacity in the form of the twin-engine Airbuses, which, Virgin said, use nearly 10 percent less fuel than the A340-300s it now operates.