Virgin Atlantic (VS, London Heathrow) says it has selected the A330neo to replace its existing fleet of two A330-200s and eight A330-300s from 2021 onwards.
In a statement issued during the 2019 Paris Air Show at Paris Le Bourget, the UK carrier said it had secured fourteen A330-900s with options for six additional aircraft. Deliveries will run from 2021 to 2024.
Of the 14 jets, eight are direct orders from Airbus with the remaining six to be leased from Air Lease Corporation.
Virgin Atlantic already has twelve A350-1000s due to deliver direct from Airbus of which the first - msn 71 - is nearing delivery.
The airline also operates six A340-600s, eight B747-400s, and seventeen B787-9s.
"Our partner Delta Air Lines' experience with the A330neo and their partial ownership of this definitely played a role in the decision," CEO Shai Weiss said during a press conference. "We chose the A330neo over the B787 for this order because they are replacing the A330ceo on a direct basis."
