Image: Airbus

EgyptAir took delivery yesterday of its first A321neo from Airbus’ Delivery Centre in Hamburg, making the airline the first African operator of the aircraft.

The aircraft is on lease from AerCap and is powered by CFM engines.

The A321neo is the largest-fuselage member of Airbus’ best-selling single-aisle A320 Family and brings a 20 percent reduction in fuel consumption and emissions per seat compared with previous generation competing aircraft. This enables EgyptAir to benefit from enhanced efficiency and be able to deliver on its commitment to sustainability, whilst reducing operating costs.

The aircraft joins EgyptAir’s Airbus fleet of 12 A220s, eight A320neos, two A320ceos four A330-200, four A330-300. With the addition of the A321neo, EGYPTAIR is demonstrating continuous ambitions to expand its Airbus fleet to meet current and future demand.

Powered by 34 per cent SAF

The delivery flight from Hamburg to Cairo was powered by 34 per cent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blend. SAF is a sustainably-produced aviation fuel made from feedstocks ranging from used fat, oil and grease to municipal and forestry waste. Compared to fossil jet fuel, SAF has been demonstrated to result in an up to 80 percent reduction in CO2 emissions across the entire SAF lifecycle. Therefore, it is considered as a key enabler to contribute to the decarbonisation of aviation.

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