EGYPTAIR has received its first Airbus A321neo aircraft. Aircraft leasing company Aercap has delivered the first Airbus A321neo to EGYPTAIR’s fleet. The flight, operating as MS3211, departed Hamburg Finkenwerder Airport (XFW) on February 27 at 12:05 and arrived at its new home in Egypt at Cairo International Airport (CAI) at 17:09. This marks the initial delivery of this aircraft type to the Egyptian airline, which has seven additional planes of the same model on order.

EGYPTAIR’s modern Airbus fleet now includes 12 A220s, 8 A320neos, 2 A320ceos, 4 A330-200s, and 4 A330-300s, along with the recent addition of the A321neo. EGYPTAIR is signaling its ongoing commitment to meeting current and future demand by expanding its Airbus fleet.

EGYPTAIR becomes the inaugural operator of this aircraft type in Africa, featuring 16 seats in business class and 166 in economy class. The airline plans to deploy the new planes on various routes spanning Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.

The delivery flight was operated by 34% SAF

During the flight from Germany to Egypt, 34% of the fuel used was sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in a bid to promote decarbonization in aviation. EGYPTAIR has previously employed SAF in its operations, indicating a commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.

Read more about this: EgyptAir Completes First Commercial Flight Powered by Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)

Airbus planes can operate on a blend of up to 50% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which is produced using feedstocks such as used fat, oil, and grease. SAF emits 80% less CO2 than traditional fossil fuels used in aviation. While Airbus has conducted successful test flights using 100% SAF, the manufacturer aims to see mainline operators utilizing up to 100% SAF by the end of the current decade.

• Featured image by: Airbus