Grupo Marsans (Aerolineas Argentinas / Air plus comet) A380
 

Anyone else heard of the Aerolineas Argentinas / Air plus comet group ordering FOUR A380´s???

http://www.latribune.fr/info/Enorme-...2573710047D9B3

La filiale d'EADS place surtout quatre exemplaires de son très gros porteur A380 dont deux sont destinées à la flotte d'Air Comet et deux à celle d'Aerolineas Argentinas.

[Airbus] The subsidiary of EADS placed especially four copies of their very big carrier A380 of which two are destined for the fleet of Air Comet and two for that of Aerolineas Argentinas.

It seems that Marsans ordered 73 planes. 4 A380's (2 for AR and 2 for Air plus) 10 A350, 42 A320, 5 A330, for a total amount of 7000 m $.
http://www.elmundo.es/mundodinero/20...c&t=1192115577
Will we see the first A380 with 800 seats flying for Air Plus? :}

http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/...fx4210506.html

73 aircraft including 4 x A380.

Marsans are looking for the Argentine trade unions to sign a 5 year no strike deal - should be interesting to see how they get on:)

Stay right up-to-date at http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=240986

Press release 11/10/07

Grupo Marsans, the largest tourism and transport group in Spain, has signed today a Memorandum of Understanding with Airbus for the purchase of 61 Airbus aircraft including ten A350-900s, four A380s, five A330-200s and 42 A320 Family aircraft (of which 12 A319s, 25 A320s and five A321s). These aircraft will be operated by Grupo Marsans' subsidiary airlines Aerolineas Argentinas and Air Comet amongst others in the group. At this stage no engine selection has been made. This new order combines with the previous order for 12 A330-200s and will bring Grupo Marsans' total commitment with Airbus to 73 aircraft.
Gonzalo Pascual, President of Grupo Marsans, explained: "This purchase is an important step for us at Grupo Marsans in our development. It demonstrates our commitment to enhancing our group's position on the short and long haul networks by incorporating the most efficient aircraft on the market today. Furthermore with the A380, we will become the first A380 customer and operator in Spain and South America."
"We are extremely honored by this important vote of confidence from Grupo Marsans. This Memorandum of Understanding is a clear sign that Airbus responds to the market. We are very proud of the selection of the A320 Family, the A350 XWB and the A380 by Grupo Marsans which, as we all know, control Aerolineas Argentinas, Air Comet and several other airlines in Europe and South America," said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer Customers.

Source: Airbus

Grupo Marsans doesn´t own the Spanish charter longhaul Air Pullmantur any longer, but still has roots in it, and manage the airline. Air Pullmantur operates exclusively to feed Pullmantur Cruises ships.

Originally they had announce the intention of ordering A380, since they normally use two B747 for each operation. With the transfer of bigger ships from Royal Caribbean Cruise Line to Pullmantur Cruises (now owned by the american company), more seats are needed.

So I assume the A380 will be used/leased in that high configuration when Air Pullmantur needs them. For the moment they are adding two extra B747-400 in january. Cruising "Spanish way" is booming and the growth is simply stupendous.