Global Crossing Will Wet Lease Airbus Aircraft To TUI Netherlands
Leisure carrier TUI Airlines Netherlands will receive the use of two new aircraft for the next few years thanks to an agreement with GlobalX. The Global Crossing Airlines Group (operating as GlobalX) has signed an ACMI wet lease agreement to operate two Airbus A320[1] aircraft for TUI Airlines Netherlands to help meet seasonal demand for its European summer programs. GlobalX will provide the aircraft and qualified crews to TUI for several weeks during peak season, flying in July and August.
The agreement covers this year as 2024 and 2025. The two planes will operate from a temporary base of operations at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport[2] and service destinations across Europe daily. The wet lease AMCI agreement provides TUI with the capacity to meet additional demand without the cost of acquiring added staff and aircraft for such a relatively short peak season.
Roel Martens, Head of Aviation Leases at TUI Airline, explained the logic behind the newly announced deal: “Each year TUI and its airlines require extra aircraft capacity to match the high season demand in our European markets. GlobalX offers a perfect match and we are happy to work with them to fly our guests into their holidays.”
The GlobalX fleet today
GlobalX began operations with the same aircraft.
The carrier took delivery of its first Airbus A320[3] in January 2021. Before expanding to other aircraft types, the airline used the style to gain its FAA certifications and air operator certificate. The airline still operates an entirely Airbus fleet from its base at Miami International Airport[4].
The lessor has six Airbus A320-200s in its fleet and can fly up to 6.5 hours non-stop. The models vary in their seating configurations but generally seat between 150 and 184 passengers. In addition to the A320s, GlobalX operates three Airbus A321[5] aircraft, a sole A319, and a converted freighter.
The company did not say which of its A320s it would use to fly for TUI Netherlands, but it has several options. The first aircraft to be delivered came from Japanese carrier StarFlyer via Frontier Airlines, with the rest arriving from various sources. Another came from the now-defunct Thomas Cook family of airlines.
A third came from Star Alliance, connecting partner Juneyao Air[6]. The remaining three Airbus A320s came from Virgin America and later Alaska Airlines. Ed Wegel, Chairman and CEO of GlobalX, expressed his excitement to work with TUI for the upcoming season.
“We are honored to fly for TUI, one of the great airlines of Europe over the next three summer seasons. We greatly appreciate their confidence in us to be able to fly their valued customers to their summer vacations.”
At the beginning of the year, GlobalX received a £5 million loan[7] to develop its cargo charter operations with the A321 Passenger to Cargo (P2F) conversion[8] freighter. The airline plans to utilize the loan to help operate this and three additional aircraft, scheduled to be delivered by the end of this quarter.
References
- ^ Airbus A320 (simpleflying.com)
- ^ Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (simpleflying.com)
- ^ delivery of its first Airbus A320 (simpleflying.com)
- ^ Miami International Airport (simpleflying.com)
- ^ Airbus A321 (simpleflying.com)
- ^ Juneyao Air (simpleflying.com)
- ^ received a £5 million loan (simpleflying.com)
- ^ Passenger to Cargo (P2F) conversion (simpleflying.com)
- ^ GlobalX (www.globenewswire.com)