Japanese Low-Cost Carrier Peach Aviation Receives Its First Aircraft

Japanese low-cost carrier Peach Aviation has taken delivery of its first aircraft, a new Airbus A320 acquired on lease from GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS).

Japanese low-cost carrier Peach Aviation received its first aircraft, a new Airbus A320, on November 4, 2011. The carrier acquired the aircraft through a leasing contract with GECAS. Peach Air has agreed to lease nine more A320s

The Japanese carrier will lease 10 A320s. Peach Aviation’s A320s will seat 180 passengers in a single-class layout and are powered by CFM International CFM56-5BP engines.

“With a complete new fleet of A320s, we aim at establishing a new low-cost business model in Japan,” said Peach Aviation President Shinichi Inoue during the delivery ceremony at Airbus’ Toulouse plant. “The world’s standard single-aisle aircraft will enable us to offer attractive airfares in the competitive Japanese market.”

Peach Aviation was established by All Nippon Airways (ANA), First Eastern Investment Group (First Eastern) in Hong Kong and Innovation Network Corporation of Japan. All Nippon Airways is the first operator of the Boeing 787 and now has at least two in service.

The Osaka-based carrier will start operations from Kansai International Airport in March 2012, first on domestic routes and then internationally across Asia.

As of today, more than 7,900 Airbus A320-family aircraft have been sold to more than 340 customers and operators worldwide, according to Airbus. The manufacturer’s latest order list shows that the number could actually be in excess of 8,100.

Unlike its competitor the Boeing 737NG family, which relies on hand-loading of belly cargo, the A320 family offers a containerized cargo system, which is compatible with the worldwide standard widebody system and facilitates quick turn-around times at airports.