Air Europa diversifies widebody fleet with Airbus A350-900 order

Spain-based Air Europa has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Airbus for up to 40 A350-900 aircraft, diversifying its widebody fleet that is currently only comprised of the Boeing 787 aircraft family.

On the second day of the Dubai Airshow 2025, Airbus, which has now unveiled three orders on this day, said that Air Europa signed a MoU for up to 40 A350-900 aircraft, which will accelerate the airline’s long-haul fleet renewal and boost profitable growth to key markets in South America.

Juan Jose Hidalgo, the President of Air Europa, praised the A350-900 for being a “game-changer for key destinations in Latin America,” adding that the aircraft provides “an exceptional cabin experience and the operational performance and economics needed to expand the airline's network without compromise, delivering the highest standards in air travel.”

“This order is a strategic milestone in Air Europa’s fleet development, accelerating its profitable growth by renewal of the current widebody fleet.”

Air Europa, which has had Airbus widebodies in the past, including the A330 and A340, now only has Boeing aircraft in its fleet: 26 737-800, four 737 MAX 8, 11 787-8, and 18 787-9, meaning that this year’s Dubai Airshow included at least two all-Boeing operators that have decided to diversify their fleets.

(Air Europa’s fleet numbers include Aeronova’s aircraft, which has 11 of the 26 737-800s.)

The other is flydubai, another all-Boeing operator with a current fleet of 737s and orders for 30 787-9s, which also signed a MoU for up to 250 A321neo aircraft, split between 150 firm and 100 optional orders, on November 18.

flydubai splits its all-Boeing fleet with potential orders of up to 250 Airbus A321neo aircraft

Throughout its history, flydubai has been an all-Boeing 737 operator.

The Engine CowlRytis Beresnevicius

Nevertheless, Air Europa will undoubtedly look to expand in the next few years after Turkish Airlines finalized an agreement to acquire a minority stake of between 25% and 27% in the Spanish carrier.

In an update on November 6, Turkish Airlines said that while the transaction, which involves an investment of €300 million ($347.4 million), “the vast majority of which will be in the form of a capital increase,” still has to get regulators’ approval, it was aimed at strengthening the Turkish carrier’s strategic position.

The investment should increase “the number of tourists visiting Türkiye along with the related economic contribution by opening new tourism markets in Latin America and expanding passenger and cargo flight network between Spain and Türkiye […].”

Turkish Airlines is both an A350, including the A350-900 and, when delivered, the A350-1000, and a 787, including the 787-9, and in the future, the 787-10, operator.