Mandala to buy four new Airbus planes

Surabaya, E Java (ANTARA News) - Mandala Airlines will buy four new A-319 and A-320 planes until late this year to replace its Boeing planes that are still operational, the company`s commercial director said.

An A-319 plane with a capacity of 144 seats was delivered by its maker in Hamburg, Germany, to Mandala on Sept 19, Iranda Susilo said during the launch of New Mandala - Lowfarexperience here on Friday.

Mandala was expected to operate the A-319 plane starting Oct 1, he said.

Mandala, which is 51 percent owned by Cardig International and 49 percent by Indigo Partners is the first Indonesian airline company to be operating an A-320 plane.

The airline company is putting an order for 25 Airbus 320 Family planes priced at US$60-70 million each to modernize its fleet as well as to increase its domestic routes to 20.