AIRCRAFT manufacturer Airbus has announced a deal for 14 new Airbus A320 aircraft.

The order from Air New Zealand will guarantee work levels at the group’s Broughton site, near Chester, which makes wings for Airbus aircraft.

Air New Zealand has also taken an option to buy a further eleven A320s, including the possibility of taking the larger A321.

Airbus A320s will replace the operator’s existing fleet of 15 Boeing 737-300s.

The A320 is a larger aircraft and will enable Air New Zealand to increase capacity on routes that are starting to face capacity constraints at some airports during peak times.

Bruce Parton, short-haul general manager with Air New Zealand, said: “Our 12 Airbus A320s already deployed on short-haul international routes are performing well and moving to one single-aisle aircraft type for both domestic and short haul international routes will immediately deliver added efficiencies in maintenance, crew training, and overall fleet simplification.”

John Leahy, Airbus chief operating officer, customers, added: “Air New Zealand will reap the benefits of selecting a common family of aircraft across its domestic and short haul single-aisle fleet. The A320 prevailed in the stiffest of competitions to show once again that it is the single-aisle aircraft of choice bar none.

“We are delighted to build on our already close relationship with Air New Zealand.”