Summary
- Airbus announced a brand new order for 60 A320neo Family aircraft from SMBC Aviation Capital, extending their orders beyond the tip of the last decade.
- SMBC CEO Peter Barrett highlights the sustained global demand for fuel-efficient aircraft just like the A320neo as a key think about the acquisition.
- The A320neo Family has received over 6,500 orders, capturing 60% of the market, and is already a proven performer in reducing emissions.
In any case the hustle and bustle of the Dubai Airshow it’s a little bit surprising that so soon after, Airbus announced a brand new order for 60 A320neo Family aircraft. The order from the leading lessor SMBC Aviation Capital, caps off a terrific few weeks for Airbus and fills the lessor’s order book beyond the tip of the last decade.
Orders stretching out to the following decade
Airbus announced today that SMBC Aviation Capital (SMBC) has ordered an extra 60 A320neo Family aircraft, constructing its total orders for the kind to just about 340 aircraft purchased directly from Airbus. With that many A320neo family aircraft on order, SMBC will receive a continuous flow of deliveries beyond the tip of the 2020s and construct on its significant fleet of Airbus single-aisle aircraft.
SMBC CEO Peter Barrett said that this transaction is further testament to sustained global demand for technologically advanced, fuel-efficient aircraft and comes amidst the continuing strong recovery in air travel worldwide. In today’s announcement, he added:
“With sustainability and operational efficiency remaining key priorities for our customers, we anticipate even greater demand for aircraft corresponding to the A320neo and the A321neo within the years ahead. We sit up for strengthening our valued partnership with Airbus as we help our customers navigate these priorities.”
At the tip of June, SMBC had a fleet of owned, managed and committed aircraft totaling 894 aircraft. The combined narrowbody fleet includes 519 Airbus A320 Family and 293 Boeing 737 Family aircraft and makes up around 91% of the overall SMBC aircraft.
The widebody fleet of 82 includes 16 Boeing 787-8s and 19 787-9 Dreamliners, 16 Airbus A350-900s and 6 A350-1000s, while 25 aircraft fall within the Other category.
The A230neo Family of strong performers
The A320neo Family was launched in 2010, and since then, greater than 6,500 orders from greater than 100 customers have been received by Airbus, capturing a 60% share of the market. With sustainability front of mind, planning aircraft acquisitions a decade prematurely means the suitable decisions are vital today if mid-range 2030 emissions goals are to be achieved.
Photo: Skycolors / Shutterstock
The A320neo Family of aircraft is already a robust and proven performer within the emissions reduction process, with recent engines, Sharklets and cabin efficiency enablers delivering a combined 20% fuel saving by 2020. Airbus Chief Industrial Officer and Head of Airbus International, Christian Scherer, said SMBC Aviation Capital’s decision to reinvest for the long run within the A320neo Family shows a terrific confidence and commitment to what’s, and is constant to be, probably the most successful aircraft program ever.
“As certainly one of the world’s leading aircraft lessors, SMBC Aviation Capital is committing to its sustainable aviation roadmap through the world’s most effective single aisle products. We very much appreciate our working relationship with SMBC and thank them sincerely for his or her continued confidence.”
After coming out of the depths of COVID-induced despair, industrial aviation is charging ahead and placing orders for aircraft that will not be delivered for years, which leaves one to wonder if Airbus and Boeing will ever do anything concrete about their woeful and unreliable delivery schedules.