Indigo, one of India’s largest domestic airlines, confirmed an order with Airbus for 250 A320neo series narrow-body jets. The contract continues Airbus’ arrangement with the nine-year-old carrier, which placed an initial order for 100 A320 jets upon its launch date in 2005.
“This new order further reaffirms IndiGo’s commitment to the long-term development of affordable air transportation in India and overseas,” commented IndiGo president Aditya Ghosh. “The additional, fuel-efficient A320neo aircraft will enable us to continue to bring our low fares and courteous, hassle free service to more customers and markets and will create more job opportunities and growth.”
The OEM did not detail the estimated cost or delivery schedule for the new jets.
Low-fare airlines are among the fastest growing sectors of the commercial aerospace market, in India and worldwide. Airbus rival Boeing Commercial Airplanes recently issued a 20-year market forecast highlighting the growing demand, and predicting the Indian market demand for 1,680 new single-aisle aircraft worth an estimated $160 billion through 2034.
The A320neo family is an updated version of the A319, A320, and A321 aircraft with a “new engine option” (either the CFM International LEAP-1A or the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G), and large wing tips that help to reduce the jets’ fuel consumption.
According to Airbus, the A320neo series will achieve 15% fuel savings to start, and 20% by 2020, compared to the current series standards. It said this is a reduction of 5,000 mt of CO2 per aircraft per year.
The A320neo series made its commercial debut last fall, and Airbus has booked orders for more than 4,000 of the new aircraft to date. IndiGo was the first Indian operator to commit to the A320neo, and with the latest order it will have booked 530 A320 family aircraft.
