A graduate in German, Jake has a passion for history and regional aviation, and enjoys sampling new carriers and aircraft. He has visited OEM facilities as far and wide as Bristol, Toulouse, and Seattle, and recently enjoyed the milestone of flying his 150th sector as a passenger. Based in Norfolk, UK.
Airbus has shaken hands with Faroese flag carrier Atlantic Airways on a firm order for another two examples of the multinational European planemaker's popular A320neo narrowbody twinjet. The airline is already familiar with the type, which it flies alongside older examples of the previous-generation Airbus A320-200. Going forward, however, Atlantic Airways is hoping to modernize to an all-A320neo fleet.
In its role as the country's flag carrier, Atlantic Airways provides a vital service in keeping the Faroe Islands connected with destinations that are located elsewhere in Europe. It did previously also fly further afield, to the US, but, for now, its connectivity is concentrated closer to home. The carrier's use of the A320neo is driven by seasonal fluctuations, with different routes served at different times of year.
Signed & Sealed
Airbus confirmed in a statement released earlier on Tuesday that it had put pen to paper with Atlantic Airways on this latest deal for two examples of the A320neo. This modern narrowbody twinjet has become the single-aisle family of choice in modern aviation in recent years, as its rival, the Boeing 737 MAX series, struggles with safety and certification issues. Atlantic Airways already has two A320neos.
Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus' Executive Vice President for Sales of Commercial Aircraft, highlighted the planemaker's long working relationship with Atlantic Airways, saying that Airbus will "support [and] facilitate efficient connections for the Faroese communities." Atlantic Airways has long favored Airbus twinjets, having also flown the smaller A319-100 over the years. Saint-Exupéry explained that:
"By adding two additional latest-generation A320neo aircraft to [its] future fleet, the airline is reinforcing its commitment to regional connectivity. We look forward to continuing our support to facilitate efficient connections for the Faroese communities."
Atlantic Airways' Fleet Transition
According to current fleet data from ch-aviation, Atlantic Airways presently has a grand total of four Airbus narrowbody twinjets at its disposal: two A320-200s and two A320neos. While the A320-200s are far from the oldest aircraft in the world, with a mean age of 12.2 years, Atlantic Airways is already considering their eventual retirement. Its two current Airbus A320neos are just 6.9 years old on average.
Reflecting on the changing of the guard at Atlantic Airways, its Chair, Niels Mortensen, said in relation to the order that "our ambition is to operate an exclusively A320neo aircraft fleet in the near future, and this agreement marks a significant step towards achieving that goal." He also went on to say that "this investment will help ensure the continuous renewal of our fleet while supporting efficient operations."
Airbus highlights the fact that Atlantic Airways' eventual transition to an all-A320neo fleet will help the Faroese flag carrier to "drive operational synergies and streamlined maintenance." In the meantime, Atlantic Airways can be fairly flexible in swapping its two aircraft types, with aeroLOPA noting that its A320neos both have 174 economy seats, while one A320-200 has 174 and the other has 180 seats.
Where Does Atlantic Airways Fly Its Existing Airbus A320neos?
Data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company, highlights the highly seasonal nature of Atlantic Airways' Airbus A320neo flights from its main base at Vágar Airport (FAE) in the Faroe Islands. In winter 26/27, they will exclusively serve destinations in northern Europe, with the likes of Aalborg (AAL), Billund (BLL), Copenhagen (CPH), Edinburgh (EDI), Hanover (HAJ), Keflavik (KEF), and Katowice (KTW) listed.
February 2027 will be the quietest month on this front, with just four A320neo flights to Billund planned. Thereafter, however, things will pick up, with March seeing a sole flight to Gran Canaria (LPA). Now that its US flights have ceased, this is one of Atlantic Airways' most distant destinations. Other summer A320neo routes include Barcelona (BCN), Milan Malpensa (MXP), Oslo (OSL), and Paris (CDG).