Air Côte d'Ivoire took delivery of its first A320neo jet

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA / Image credit : H. Gousse, Airbus

 

The national flag carrier of Ivory Coast (also known as Cote d'Ivoire), headquartered in Abidjan, Air Côte d'Ivoire took delivery of its first Airbus A320neo aircraft (TU-TSX) on 18 February 2021, becoming the first airline in West Africa to operate this aircraft type. In addition to this latest generation aircraft, Air Cote d'Ivoire currently operates 6 Airbus aircraft.

Image courtesy : Airbus

The aircraft has a higher level of efficiency and will be put into operation in the regional route network of Air Côte d'Ivoire, providing services on its routes to Senegal, Gabon and Cameroon. Subsequently, the aircraft will also implement routes to destinations such as Johannesburg, highlighting the operational flexibility of the A320neo aircraft. This model is equipped with CFM International's Leap-1A engine, with a comfortable two-class cabin layout, including 16 business class seats and 132 economy class seats. Passengers will enjoy the widest cabin space, high-speed internet access and the latest generation of in-flight entertainment systems in a single-aisle aircraft.

Image courtesy : Eurospot

Air Côte d'Ivoire’s first A320neo aircraft took off from Toulouse and also carried 1 ton of humanitarian supplies, including medical equipment and toys. The mission is a joint collaboration between Air Côte d'Ivoire, Aeronautics Without Borders and the Airbus Foundation, and is part of Air Cote d'Ivoire’s corporate social responsibility initiative. The transported materials will be provided to local NGOs in Abidjan to provide support to the country's education and health departments.

The Air Côte d'Ivoire fleet has 10 aircraft, including 3 A319 and 3 A320 aircraft, serving 25 domestic and regional destinations in West and Central Africa.

Thanks to the latest technology including new generation engines and sharklets, the fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions of the A320neo series aircraft can be reduced by 20%. Up to now, the A320neo series aircraft has received 7,450 orders from nearly 120 customers.