BOC Aviation has signed agreements for the lease of four new A320-200 aircraft to Vueling Airlines (“Vueling”). All aircraft will be equipped with IAE V2522-A5 SelectOne engines and are scheduled to be delivered in the first half of this year.

 

Vueling is a Spanish airline and operates out of thirteen bases in Europe. On top of adding new overseas bases, the airline has already announced expansion plans to transform its main base at Barcelona El Prat Airport into Europe’s main hub for short and medium distance flights by 2014.

Alex Cruz, chief executive officer of Vueling, said “Our plan is to link Barcelona to over 100 destinations in Europe, Northern Africa and the Middle East this year and the aircraft from BOC Aviation will be used on these routes. We closed the transaction with BOC Aviation very quickly as they have a professional and experienced team in place.”

 

“Vueling has a strong low cost model that serves it well - we have seen how the airline has grown over the years since it first leased our aircraft in 2007,” said Steven Townend, deputy managing director and chief commercial officer of BOC Aviation. “We are glad to be working once again with Vueling to help support their growth plan,” he added.

 

BOC Aviation is an Asia-based aircraft leasing company with a portfolio of 203 owned and managed aircraft operated by airlines worldwide and another 50 aircraft on firm order. BOC Aviation is 100% owned by Bank of China.