Pictured are Aer Lingus First Officer Conor Murray, cabin crew members Oisin Leong and Kellie Woods, and Aer Lingus Director of Fleet Lander Dominguez Ruiz as Aer Lingus took delivery of its first Airbus A320neo aircraft (registration EI-NSA, named Saint Thomas), which will go into service on Wednesday 28th September and operate Aer Lingus flight EI152 from Dublin to London Heathrow. To mark the Airbus A320neo’s first flight Aer Lingus will offset the carbon emissions from the flight of all customers travelling on board.
The Airbus A320neo delivers up to 20% reduction in fuel burn and CO2 emissions and close to 50% reduction in noise footprint when compared to previous generation aircraft, A320ceo. There is a greater density of seats (186) on the A320neo aircraft resulting lower fuel emissions per seat/passenger on board.
This is the first of two new Airbus A320neo aircraft that Aer Lingus has leased from CDB Aviation, with the second aircraft also joining the fleet this week. The aircraft will be part of Aer Lingus’ shorthaul fleet, predominantly operating London Heathrow routes. They replace two previous generation aircraft, Airbus A320ceo, which will be retired from the fleet.
The new generation aircraft will support the airline’s sustainability programme where Aer Lingus, as part of IAG, has pledged to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and has committed to powering 10% of its flights using sustainable aviation fuel by 2030.