LONDON – Milan-based carrier Neos Air (Neos) has taken delivery of two Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The carrier becomes a new customer for lessor CDB Aviation, a wholly owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., Ltd.
Neos, which operates services from Italy and Europe to the Americas, Asia, and Africa, plans to deploy the two aircraft, configured with 186 single class seats, on intra-European and intercontinental routes.
“We look forward to building a strong working partnership with our newest European customer in Italy, Neos,” commented Paul Boyle, CDB Aviation’s Head of Commercial, EMEA.
“These two Boeing aircraft are well suited to serve the carrier’s short- and medium-haul network.”
“We are excited and proud to welcome the second aircraft leased from CDB Aviation into our fleet. These two aircraft are a perfect fit to support our strategic short-haul fleet renewal plan and commercial operations planned for 2023.”
“We thank the CDB Aviation team who has shown a high level of commitment since the negotiation phase, and we hope that this is just the beginning of a long and fruitful collaboration,” commented Marco Brusa, Neos’ Fleet Planning Manager.
“With the accelerating pace of air passenger traffic’s recovery, Neos has the potential to seize on the nascent rebound in air travel and regional tourism,” underscored Peter Goodman, CDB Aviation’s Chief Commercial Officer.
“We are very pleased to have collaborated with the Neos team on this transaction as part of the airline’s ongoing fleet upgrade initiative. We look forward to building on our relationship and supporting their ambitious growth trajectory in the future.”
About Neos Air
Neoas Air is an Italian airline and a subsidiary of Alpitour S.p.A. It operates and all-Boeing fleet which is comprised of Boeing 737 Next Generation, 737 MAX and Boeing 787 aircraft.
The carrier services over 73 scheduled domestic, European and intercontinental destinations. It operates from its main hub at Milan Malpensa Airport.
Neos was originally established on 22 June 2001, as a joint venture between two tourism companies, the Italian Alpitour S.p.A. and the German TUI Group.
Revenue flights were subsequently launched on 8 March 2002. In January 2004, Alpitour bought all of TUI Group’s shares. This effectively made Neos a fully owned subsidiary of Alpitour, and no longer affiliated with TUI.
Neos has a long background of operations with Costa Cruises to transport passengers from Italy to Dubai, the Caribbean, and northern Europe at Costa’s ships’ departure and arrival points.
In January 2011, Neos’ fleet was increased in size to six aircraft. In 2014, Neos then acquired three Boeing 787-8s.
These orders were later upgraded into four of the larger 787-9 with a further two acquired from Norwegian Air International.
Neos became the first Italian operator of the Boeing 787 when its first 787-9 entered service on 25 December 2017.
On 30 March 2021, the airline inducted its first two Boeing 737 MAX 8. It then received a further two aircraft on 8 June 2021, taking its fleet tally to four 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
