Aer Lingus today confirmed Airbus as the sole supplier of aircraft for its extended European route network that it intends to operate as a budget carrier.
Under the deal announced today, Aer Lingus will acquire 17 A320 aircraft from Airbus, of which seven will be purchased outright and ten will be leased. The airline already operates 10 Airbus aircraft.
The deal also includes options for a further ten A320 aircraft.
Aer Lingus chief executive Mr Willie Walsh said he was "delighted" with the result of the 15-month evaluation process and described the order as an "excellent financial deal achieved at precisely the right time in the industry cycle".
Aer Lingus will use the aircraft on the 15 new European routes it intends to open in the next two years, bringing to 30 the number of new routes opened since the end of 2001.