Airbus has won a large order from the Indian budget airline IndiGo for 180 of its A320 jets.
The order, worth around $15.6 billion (£10 billion) at advertised prices, includes 150 of Airbus’s new eco-conscious A320neo jets.
Blagnac, France-basedAirbus has described the order as the biggest, in terms of number of jets, in aviation history.
Gurgaon-based IndiGo is the first announced customer for the A320neo—a revamped, eco-conscious version of Airbus’s popular single-aisle jet—that Airbus hopes to bring to market in 2016.
New features include more fuel-efficient engines and other features with the goal of achieving fuel savings of 15 per cent compared with its predecessor. The new aircraft is also being designed with lower carbon emissions and engine noise in mind.
Commenting on the order, Rakesh Gangwal and Rahul Bhatia, co-founders of IndiGo, said: “This order for industry leading fuel efficient aircraft will allow IndiGo to continue to offer low fares. Ordering more A320s was the natural choice to meet India’s growing flying needs. The opportunity to reduce costs and to further improve our environmental performance through the A320neo were key to our decision.”
John Leahy, chief operating officer customers for Airbus, added: “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.
“This order positions IndiGo to take full advantage of the predicted growth in Indian air travel and we are delighted that they continue to build their future with Airbus.”
IndiGo’s order underlines the potential of the aviation market in India, which both Airbus and US-based rival Boeing are targeting.
The A320 is Airbus's best-selling plane. Over 6,800 have been ordered and over 4,500 delivered to more than 310 customers worldwide since it went into service in 1988.
