US Airways Group Inc. said it will buy seven additional Airbus A321 jets to replace retiring aircraft, and modified and accelerated orders for other Airbus planes.
Company spokesman Phil Gee said Wednesday the new terms outlined by US Airways reaffirms its commitment to the European aircraft manufacturer.
Airbus loaned US Airways about $250 million (euro195 million) to help finance its takeover by America West, which was completed last year. As part of the loan, US Airways agreed to buy 20 Airbus A350 planes in 2005.
"They're a great partner of ours," Gee said. "They gave us critical support to help the merger between US Airways and America West."
Gee said the airline has since refinanced the Airbus loan and is no longer beholden to the consortium.
The seven new jets are above a standing order for 30 others. US Airways on Wednesday changed that order, converting an existing order for one A320 aircraft and seven A319 jets to an order for eight A321 planes.
The A321 has a longer range and larger seating capacity than the A320 and A319. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Doug Parker, the airline's chairman, president and CEO, said US Airways may use the new planes to either replace older, less efficient aircraft or boost capacity under certain market conditions. To a large degree, U.S. carriers have been shy to add capacity recently, which has given them greater pricing power to raise fares and help mitigate higher fuel costs.
US Airways will accept delivery of the 15 A321 aircraft between July 2008 and 2010. Under its original order, the airline would have received the first Airbus jet in 2009.
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