Air Côte d'Ivoire has signed its first order for two Airbus A330neo aircraft. These are the national airline's first two long-haul aircraft. The agreement was announced at the headquarters ofAirbus in Toulouse, in the presence of Amadou Koné, Minister of Transport of Côte d'Ivoire, Laurent Loukou, CEO of Air Côte d'Ivoire, General Abdoulaye Coulibaly, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Air Côte d'Ivoire and Philippe Mhun, Executive Vice President Programmes and Services, Airbus.
The airline currently operates a fleet of 6 Airbus aircraft comprising one A320neo, two A320ceo and three A319.. This fleet will enable Air Côte d'Ivoire to operate exclusively domestic and regional routes. 17 destinations in Africa and 2 domestic destinations.
A plane with four classes of service?
The new A330neo will enable Air Côte d'Ivoire to extend its network and launch new long-haul routes, with a view to the airline's deployment on transcontinental destinations. Abidjan-Paris would be one of the first intercontinental routes for the Ivorian carrier.
The A330-900 is capable of flying 13,300 km non-stop. Operating the A330neo alongside its fleet of Airbus single-aisle aircraft will enable Air Côte d'Ivoire to benefit from huge operational savings and greater flexibility generated by Airbus' unique commonality between members of its aircraft family.
The A330neo stands out with its Airspace cabin, offering passengers a high level of comfort, ambience and design.. They benefit from more individual space, larger baggage bins and a new lighting system. The aircraft also offers easy access to the latest in-flight entertainment and connectivity systems.
According to the Ivorian press, the two aircraft will be integrated into the Air Côte d'Ivoire fleet between the end of 2024 and the second quarter of 2025. The aircraft are expected to carry 240 passengers in four service cabins. No further details have been revealed.
