VOLOTEA EXPANDS ITS FLEET WITH THREE ADDITIONAL AIRBUS A320S

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VOLOTEA EXPANDS ITS FLEET WITH THREE ADDITIONAL AIRBUS A320S

The airline will have a total of 44 aircraft to serve the more than 450 routes it plans to operate in 2024 with an offer between 12.5 million to 13 million seats.

This year, Volotea expects to carry around 12 million passengers, representing a 60% increase compared to 2019. 

Since 2021, the airline has been updating its fleet, and in 2022, it incorporated six Airbus A320 aircraft, a more efficient and eco-conscious model.

Barcelona, February 13th, 2024 – Volotea, the fastest-growing independent European airline over the last decade, starts the year by adding three Airbus A320s to its fleet to continue offering the best service and respond to the increase in capacity and the new routes announced for this year.

With these additions, the company will now have a total of 44 aircraft, consisting of 20 Airbus A319 aircraft and 24 A320 aircraft. The three new aircraft, equipped with CFM engines and a capacity for 180 passengers, are scheduled to enter commercial operations in April, coinciding with the start of the summer season. These additions signify a significant long-term investment in the airline's fleet and future while effectively meeting the demands of the 450 routes Volotea plans to operate this year.

In 2024, the airline expects to offer between 12.5 million and 13 million seats, carry between 11.5 million and 12 million passengers, and operate approximately 80,000 flights, all of this with a workforce that will reach 2,000 people by year-end.

Volotea reaches more than 110 airports in Europe, with its primary markets in France, Italy and Spain, and has bases in 21 small and medium-sized European cities: Asturias, Athens, Bari, Bilbao, Bordeaux, Brest, Cagliari, Florence, Hamburg, Lille, Lyon, Lourdes, Marseille, Nantes, Naples, Olbia, Palermo, Strasbourg, Toulouse, Venice and Verona. The bases in Brest, located in Brittany, France, and Bari, situated in Apulia, Italy, are new additions for 2024, further enhancing the company's expansion plans for this year.

Stephen Rapp, Chief Financial Officer of Volotea, says, “We are very proud to continue our growth in alignment with the expansion plans we set for this year and to do so hand-in-hand with Airbus as a valued partner. Last year alone, Volotea transported over 10 million passengers on approximately 70,000 flights, with an average occupancy rate of 92% for our scheduled flights. With a revenue of around €700 million and historic financial margins for a company with just over ten years of existence, the forecast for this year is to continue growing and increase our capacity by 15%. The addition of these new aircraft will prepare us for the demand of the summer season, traditionally the busiest time for the company. In addition, the more modern and efficient Airbus A320 will help us in our ongoing efforts to improve our competitiveness and achieve our emissions reduction targets, while continuing to offer our customers the best service.”

In 2021, Volotea initiated the renewal of its fleet, transitioning from the Boeing 717 to the Airbus A319 and A320. The transition to an all-Airbus family fleet, which offers enhanced fuel efficiency per passenger-kilometer, allows Volotea to employ more sustainable operational practices while working towards its emissions reduction targets.

Since its inception in 2012, Volotea has launched more than 50 initiatives to reduce fuel consumption. Beyond the renewal of its fleet, the following initiatives are also noteworthy: the optimization of all flight phases, using cutting-edge AI and machine learning software to improve performance and fuel usage; the increase in the frequency of engine and external fuselage washing for its aircraft to maintain peak efficiency during high-demand seasons; and finally, the use of a single-engine taxi during ground operations, among others.