Aer Lingus said it today it has exercised its right to acquire four Airbus A320-200 aircraft after entering an agreement to purchase the planes from the French plane maker in 2003.
Under the terms of the deal the basic price of each A320-200 aircraft is $56.7 million (€37.6 million) meaning the total for the four planes is $226.8 million.
The Irish carrier said the price it will pay for each of the aircraft will be subject to certain downward adjustments as it has obtained certain price concessions from EADS-owned Airbus.
The four planes are scheduled for delivery on dates between late 2010 and early 2011. Aer Lingus added that it would look at a variety of financing options to fund the purchases.
"We are pleased to announce agreement on the terms of purchase of these four new shorthaul aircraft which are key to our growth ambitions.
"The aircraft will complement our existing Airbus fleet and enhance our short haul network,' Aer Lingus" chief executive, Dermot Mannion, said in a statement