Airbus said today that it has landed a $16 billion deal with India’s IndiGo for 180 aircraft.
The European jet maker says this is the largest single order for aircraft in commercial aviation history.
The tentative order includes 30 of Airbus original A320 single-aisle jets and 150 of Airbus’s new engine option A320s, due out in 2016. This is Airbus’s first order for the A320 neo, which Airbus says will save carriers 15 percent on fuel costs.
“The A320 Family is the recognised market leader. The A320neo, offering maximum benefit for minimum change, will ensure that this continues to be the case for many years to come,” John Leahy, Airbus’s chief operating officer, said in a statement.
IndiGo, a low cost carrier, already had ordered 100 A320s from Airbus in 2005.
The airline will select the engines for the A320 neo jets later. The new A320s come with the option of CFM International’s LEAP-X engine and Pratt & Whitney’s PurePower PW1100G engine.
“This order for industry leading fuel efficient aircraft will allow IndiGo to continue to offer low fares,” said Rakesh Gangwal and Rahul Bhatia, co-founders of IndiGo. “Ordering more A320s was the natural choice to meet India’s growing flying needs.”
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