Air Berlin inks deal to buy up to 110 Airbus A320s

BERLIN, Nov 4 (AFP) - Air Berlin, the second biggest German airline, has signed a deal to order up to 110 Airbus A320 aircraft to be delivered starting in September 2005, a spokesman for the German company said Thursday.
Airbus said in a statement that the low-cost German airline had made a firm order for 70 A320s and had an option to buy 40 more.
The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed but it could be worth between 4.03 and 4.31 billion euros (5.19-5.55 billion dollars) based on catalogue prices for A320s.
The no-frills airline, which is expanding raidly, transported 9.6 million passengers last year.
It is aiming for 20 percent growth in sales and 30 percent growth in the number of passengers this year.
The company currently has a fleet of 45 aircraft, made up of 42 Boeing 737s and three Fokkers. Half of the airplanes are leased.

11/04/2004 15:57 GMT - AFP