Avolon expands Airbus fleet with 90-plane Airbus A330neo and A321neo order
July 24, 2025
Leading Irish lessor Avolon has placed an order for an additional 90 Airbus aircraft, comprising both narrow- and wide-body types.
The Dublin-based finance company has purchased 15 A330neos and 75 A321neos.
The order includes purchase rights for a further 25 A321neos and 15 A330neos.
Avolon already had 64 A330neos and 189 A321neos on its orderbook before the latest agreement was announced on 24 July.
Avolon extends its reach within lessor market
Avolon is one of the largest lessors in the world, with a fleet of 599 aircraft. The company has 142 airline customers spread across 60 countries, including American Airlines and Air France.
Including today’s order, the company had outstanding commitments for an additional 442 aircraft, including 283 for the A320neo family and 117 Boeing 737 MAX.
On the widebody side, it owns 32 A330-900s, as well as 24 A350s and 35 Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The A330-900 is where Avolon is investing, with today’s order bringing its outstanding commitments to 40 additional aircraft.
Andy Cronin, Avolon’s CEO, said today’s order reflected confidence in the aviation industry and continued demand for new aircraft types.
“Both the A321neo and A330neo are in high demand, and we expect this to continue,” he said.
Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales within its commercial aircraft unit, said: “Lessors are excellent barometers of the aircraft market, and we are grateful to Avolon for expanding its commitment for the A320 Family and A330neo, so soon after an earlier order two years ago.”
The A330-900 is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, the sole powerplant for the type.
The companies did not disclose the engine type for the A321neos, which are powered either by CFM International LEAP-1A or Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-JM.
Avolon digs in on the ‘just right’ Airbus A330neo
Avolon leases the A330neo to a diverse array of customers, including Delta, ITA Airways, Garuda Indonesia and Cebu Pacific.
In September, Avolon agreed to lease five Airbus A330neos to South Korean low-cost carrier T’way.
The aircraft will be delivered in 2026 and will support T’way’s expansion of its international route network. With this deal, T’way became the 12th A330neo operator in Avolon’s customer base.
The A330neo is fast becoming the ‘just right’ aircraft for airlines around the world. It delivers a long-range, modern widebody experience but at a lower operating cost than its bigger sister, the A350.
In recent months, both Condor and Malaysia Airlines ordered more A330neos for their fleets, while Kuwait Airways has become the first airline to operate both types of A330neo.
Avolon is securing its Airbus delivery slots for the future
With production slots for new aircraft in short supply, Avolon’s latest order is as much about timing as fleet strategy.
The lessor has been vocal about the growing challenge of securing new-generation widebodies, warning in its 2024 Outlook: New Horizons that available delivery slots could be fully sold out to 2030 by the end of this year.
As airlines scramble to renew fleets and expand long-haul capacity, leasing companies like Avolon are moving early to lock in positions in the Airbus backlog, positioning themselves as essential partners for carriers facing long waits from the manufacturers.
