New C Series order from European Airline
 

Any clues of whom the airline might be?

BA City Flyer - watch this space! ;)

BA, a logical thinking, but they said already "no" early this year. Maybe now the price includes a good discount for the large order. Lufthansa is a good candidate either.

Not Easyjet to replace 319s as they upscale to 321s for fatter routes?

BA - yes, although up to 61 aircraft could be a bit of a stretch. Easy - yes, I'm sure there are some circumstances where it would make sense for them to have smaller aircraft. Southend, IOM...

My bet would be AF to replace 318/319's.

Yes, I'd be surprised if it wasn't Air France.

EZY? Average fleet age!

https://m.planespotters.net/airline/easyJet-Group

Compared to AF average fleet age!

https://m.planespotters.net/airline/Air-France

What about Flybe with its DHC connection and ageing fleet of Embraer's.

Doubt Flybe could get a bond away into the markets for an order of that scale. Treasury at EZY or AF on the other hand could.

But AF and Airbus are both French and in bed with each other!

And Airbus are planning to be a majority stakeholder in Bombardier, so the AF option is still very much open

Interesting point. Given the current lack lustre Brexit negotiations the cynic in me is telling me the French may prefer not to support British industry and the French loyalty may be more aligned to protectionist posture of supporting Airbus as a national priority. Politics is a grubby business. No doubt there will be a spin to this Airbus / Bombardier tie-up, once politician'get involved it gets dirty.

Airbus may proclaim to be European but just check out the crew of the first A380 test flight(s), they were to be all French but they put a solitary German national in to the crew for shop window puposes.

Who was it that grounded Concorde between the pair of them!

Where's the French at in repaying costs of WWII, how many tons of gold have they coughed up? Champagne EU politicians have short memories!

Enough of a thread drift, I don't want to be told off again, back to topic please!

So it seems a few on here are leaning towards Air France being a potential placer of that order. Easyjet are another but their fleet average age is young compared to Air France. Who else in Europe has aging A318/9 airframes nearing replacing? Aer Lingus but not to the extent they need to place an order of this scale (I don't think), unless IAG are looking to implement a strategy shift, and they see an opening in the market to exploit?

I'm not sure on EZY. Having taken on some of Air Berlins fleet, and a focus on larger A321's they'll look to be set for a while.

However they still have many routes which continue to operate only a few times a week using 319s, and I read elsewhere that these are being sold to United. These routes would surely operate better with a smaller a/c, assuming there is sufficient business (ie higher fare)demand.

The LCC model is to operate with one common type, the A320 family being one type as far as crewing them are concerned, likewise the B737-6/7/8/9 family.

There have been exceptions to this rule, I've been in exile from Europe for 6 years now so perhaps out of date but recall Air Baltic opetating both Fokkers and Boeings, Air Berlin Fokkers and Airbus's and whatever else, Flybe, not strictly a LCC, operating BAE146's/Embraers of different sizes and DHC8's ... but then look at the recent difficulties Flybe have had etc.

Unless crews, particularly flight crews, are to be paid a across the board salaries for, let's say, C Series and Airbus's then the good ol' pilot seniority comes in to play, need to replace an Airbus pilot then need to upgrade and retrain a C Series pilot then need to employ and train a new C Series pilot to replace, doesn't fit in with the LCC business model, double the training costs etc. etc. etc whilst if the only standby aircraft/crew of a day might be A320 to replace a technical C Series ... A very good way all round for a LCC to lose money!