Yemenia takes delivery of first Airbus A330-200

The second aircraft will be delivered in the coming weeks. Both aircraft are being leased from International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC).

Each of Yemenia's A330-200s seats 277 passengers in a first and economy layout. The aircraft are powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700s.

"Our Airbus A330-200s represent an important new step into the future for us, bringing both technological benefits as well as an increase in aircraft size," says Yemenia Chairman Captain Abdulkalek Al-Kadi. "We are delighted to be modernising our fleet with Airbus aircraft in this way, and look forward to the improvements in economy and passenger comfort that it will bring."

Yemenia's fleet currently includes four Airbus A310s, which are used mainly on services to Asia, Europe and within the Middle East.

"Airlines play a key role in growing business and tourism, and are often major contributors to a country's economic growth - especially when they are 'flag-carriers' such as Yemenia", says Airbus President and CEO Noël Forgeard. "The Airbus A330-200 is an excellent aircraft for the modernisation of Yemenia's fleet, and I am confident that it will prove an excellent tool for economic growth."

Airbus' A330/A340 family is the market leader in the 250-375 seat class, with some 830 orders to its credit from around 65 customers. It consistently leads in independent passenger surveys.

Airbus offers airlines the most modern airliner family, using the latest technology to deliver worthwhile benefits to its customers. Its aircraft lead the market in the Middle East, having been chosen by most of the carriers in the region for their fleet modernisations and expansions.

Airbus is an EADS joint company with BAE SYSTEMS.