Airbus orders at Paris Air Show 2023.
India’s IndiGo places record order for 500 A320 Family aircraft
IndiGo, India’s largest airline by market share, has placed a firm order for 500 A320 Family aircraft, setting the record for the biggest single purchase agreement in the history of commercial aviation. The latest agreement takes the total number of Airbus aircraft on order by IndiGo to 1,330, establishing its position as the world’s biggest A320 Family customer.
New Delhi-headquartered IndiGo is among the fastest growing carriers in the world. Since its first A320neo aircraft was delivered in March 2016, its fleet of A320neo Family has grown into one of the world’s largest with 264 aircraft in operation (162 A320neo, 79 A321neo, 21 A320ceo and 2 A321 freighters. IndiGo placed its first order with Airbus in 2005 (100 A320 Family) and again in 2011 (180 A320 Family including the NEO), in 2014 (250neo Family), and in 2019 (300 A320neo Family) taking its previous total order book to 830 A320 Family aircraft.
Air India firms up order for 250 Airbus aircraft
Air India has firmed up its order for 250 Airbus aircraft and selected an Airbus maintenance and digital package to power the airline’s transformation and growth strategy.
The aircraft order includes 140 A320neo and 70 A321neo single-aisle aircraft as well as 34 A350-1000 and six A350-900 wide-body jets. The airline had signed a Letter of Intent to acquire these aircraft in February 2023.
Deliveries are set to commence with the first A350-900 before the end of 2023.
Volaris discloses 25 A321neos
Mexican ultra-low-cost airline and all-Airbus operator Volaris has disclosed 25 A321neo from a purchase agreement signed in October 2022. These aircraft bring Volaris total backlog to 143 A320neo Family aircraft, which will support the airline’s continuous fleet renewal and expansion, powered by Pratt & Whitney engines.
Philippine Airlines finalises order for nine A350-1000s
Philippine Airlines (PAL) has finalised a purchase agreement with Airbus for the firm order of nine A350-1000 long range aircraft.
The A350-1000 has been selected under the Philippine carrier’s Ultra Long Haul Fleet project and will fly on non-stop services from Manila to North America, including to the East Coast of the US and Canada. The new aircraft will join two A350-900s already in service at the airline.
PAL’s A350-1000 fleet will be able to accommodate 380 passengers in a three class layout, with separate cabins for Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy Class.
Avolon signs MoU for 20 A330neo
Avolon, the international leasing company, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to order 20 A330neo aircraft. Avolon’s selection of the A330-900 reflects its vision to secure the earliest available slots, to take advantage of growing widebody demand around the world.
Including owned, managed and committed aircraft, Avolon currently has a total fleet of 616 Airbus aircraft. This includes 55 A330neos as well as 208 A320ceo, 285 A320neo, 51 A330ceo and 17 A350s).
Qantas finalises incremental order for nine A220s
Australia’s Qantas Group has finalised an incremental order for nine A220-300s, bringing its total backlog for the single aisle type to 29 aircraft. The A220 was originally selected by Qantas as part of a major fleet replacement programme announced in May 2022, which also included orders for the A321XLR and A350-1000. The carrier had announced its intention to order the additional A220s in February this year.
Qantas will take delivery of its first A220 at the end of this year and will operate the type primarily on its extensive domestic route network.
Saudi Arabia’s flynas firms up 30 more A320neo Family aircraft
flynas, the Saudi air carrier and a leading low-cost airline in the Middle East, has firmed up an order with Airbus for 30 new A320neo Family aircraft, taking the airline’s total order with Airbus to 120 A320neo aircraft, including 10 A321XLRs.
flynas is an all Airbus operator and was the first airline in Saudi Arabia to acquire the A320neo. The carrier currently operates a fleet of 32 A320neos, 13 A320ceos and four A330-300s. The addition of these new aircraft will support the airline’s growth plans as it continues to expand its international routes and destinations network.
Air Mauritius confirms order for three A350 aircraft
Air Mauritius has confirmed an order for three A350 aircraft to expand its network in Europe and South Asia.
The three latest generation aircraft will bring Air Mauritius’ A350 fleet to a total of seven. The airline already operates four A350 and four A330 Airbus aircraft.
