This text covers a developing story. Proceed to examine back with us as we will likely be adding more information because it becomes available.
Indian low-cost giant IndiGo has proven the rumors right and has placed a record-breaking order with manufacturer Airbus at today’s Paris Air Show. The airline ordered up 500 Airbus A320 family aircraft, making it the most important order in history.
500 additional aircraft
The airline is already a serious Airbus customer, having secured orders for 830 A320 family aircraft through the years. Indeed, IndiGo still has roughly 500 of those outstanding orders yet to be delivered. With today’s order added on, the backlog for this ambitious carrier has ballooned to a four-figure total – 1,330 aircraft in all.
The large order was rumored in the times leading as much as the show, and eclipses the record order seen from Tatas Air India in February this yr by about 30 planes. Speaking on the signing at Le Bourget today, Airbus Chief Business Officer Christian Scherer noted,
“You’ll be able to imagine how proud the moment that is for us at Airbus, and truthfully, for me personally, to be sitting here in such great company. It has been 18 years from nothing to where IndiGo is today. And, in fact, we at Airbus are only incredibly, incredibly gratified and happy with this association that has brought democratization of air travel to India.
Photo: Tom Boon | Easy Flying
“We’re super happy with the very high degree of integrity and efficiency with which IndiGo is running the airline and its fleet of A320s and A321s. And, in fact, today marks just one other landmark moment transaction in a relationship that is much greater than simply airplane deals.”
IndiGo expects its international share to grow to almost 30% in the approaching years but has not specified the numbers of today’s order. The Airbus A321LR and A321XLR, the latter of which accomplished its first test flight one yr ago, are the proper aircraft to assist the low-cost carrier expand its international network. 69 of IndiGo’s outstanding orders are for the A321XLR which is predicted to enter into service next yr.
When asked if IndiGo was considering additional widebody orders, CEO Pieter Elbers said, “Let’s deal with this.” The reply didn’t suffice for the media within the room, who continued to press Elbers, but Elbers continued to bring the conversation back to today’s order. Could a widebody order be within the carrier’s future?
As mentioned above, IndiGo still has almost 500 Airbus aircraft on order, from three previous purchases in 2011, 2014, and 2019. Excluding today’s massive order, that is where IndiGo’s orders and deliveries stand:
Aircraft |
Ordered |
Delivered |
Operational |
---|---|---|---|
A320ceo |
100 |
100 |
21 |
A320neo |
340 |
168 |
166 |
A321ceo |
0 |
0 |
2 |
A321neo |
390 |
85 |
85 |
Total |
830 |
353 |
274 |
Successful day for Airbus
IndiGo was not the one airline to put an order on the primary day of this yr’s Paris Air Show. Earlier within the day, Air Mauritius added three Airbus A350 aircraft to its order book, which can bring its future A350 fleet to seven. Saudi airline flynas also got in on the motion, firming an order for a 30 Airbus A320neo family aircraft, including ten A321XLRs.