Air Côte d'Ivoire ritires an Airbus A319-100 from its fleet, the second in 4 months
Air Côte d'Ivoire has retired another Airbus A319-100. The airplane (msn 2228, TU-TSB) of the Ivorian national carrier left Abidjan on February 28, bound for the French airport of Tarbes – Lourdes – Pyrénées where it will probably be dismantled.
The rented plane came to the Ivorian carrier's fleet in October 2012. It was previously operated by Air France. Now 16.8 years old, he has "significant operating and maintenance costs".
Last November, Air Côte d'Ivoire withdrew another aircraft of the type (msn 2066, TU-TST) which has since joined the fleet of its Irish lessor Avolon. Remember that these withdrawals occur when the carrier, based in Abidjan, renews its fleet. Last month, Air Côte d'Ivoire took delivery of its first A320neo. An aircraft that "consumes 20% less fuel [...] In addition, its maintenance costs are 5% lower", explains the company. "It is an aircraft that therefore wants to reduce operating costs by 14% compared to an aircraft of the same family and of the previous generation.”In its new configuration, the company now has 9 aircraft including two A320-200, one A320neo, two A319-100, four Dash8-400. Its order book also includes two A319neos.