The New Year begins with an order for additional 10 A350-900. Or perhaps the 2012 year finished with that. Don´t care.

Lessor CIT Group Inc., has placed a firm order for 10 A350-900s taking its overall commitment to the twinjet type to 15.

CIT had originally ordered 7 aircraft: 5 A350-800s + 2 A350-900s. Latter, in mid-2011 it reduced the order to 5 aircraft: 0 A350-800s + 5 A350-900s. With today´s order, the total backlog is 15 aircraft, all of them A350-900.

 “This order for Airbus A350 XWBs will further expand our portfolio of medium-to-long haul aircraft,” said C. Jeffrey Knittel, President of CIT Transportation Finance. “As one of the leading lessors in the world with more than 110 twin aisle aircraft currently in our portfolio and on order, CIT Aerospace maintains one of the youngest, most fuel efficient fleets in the industry. This new order underscores our commitment to delivering highly efficient aircraft to our global customer base.”

 

“We are very confident that our A350 XWB Family will perfectly meet long haul operators’ needs by offering them the highest levels of comfort and efficiency,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “This repeat order for the A350 XWB from CIT clearly demonstrates this to be the case.”

With CIT’s order included, the A350 XWB has already won 572 firm orders from 34 customers worldwide. Mr. Leahy, Airbus COO Customers will clarify next 17/January if this order is the first one of 2013 or will be included in its order total for 2012.