Airbus racks up A320neo commitments in Paris

Airbus continued its steady stream of aircraft order announcements at the Paris Air Show Wednesday, taking commitments and orders in the first three days of the show to more than 600 aircraft—most of them A320s.

From left, Airbus COO-Customers John Leahy, Airbus President and CEO Tom Enders, and IndiGo’s President Aditya Ghosh. IndiGo firmed an order for 180 A320s, including 150 A320neos at the Paris Air Show. Photo: Courtesy, Airbus.

Not all of the announcements are new orders or MOUs, however. IndiGo's contract signing Wednesday was a firming up of an agreement reached late last year for 180 A320s, including 150 A320neos (ATW Daily News, April 1). The contract has a value of $16.2 billon at list prices. Deliveries will start in 2015 and run through 2024.

"Our existing order for 100 A320s and the order announced today will help meet India's growing flying market," IndiGo President Aditya Ghosh told media, strongly dismissing the assertion that there is overcapacity in the Indian market. "There are only about 400 commercial planes for a market of 1 billion people. It will take many years before the Indian market reaches maturity."

IndiGo, as previously announced, selected Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines for its A320neos.

Airbus announcements Wednesday included a new MOU for 40 A320neos and 40 A319neos from Republic Airways Holdings, which selected CFM International's Leap-X engine for all 80 neos. The engine order is valued at more than $2 billion at list prices.

New orders and commitments also came from ALAFCO. The Kuwaiti aviation leasing firm signed an MOU for 30 A320neos and an order for six A350-900s, bringing its total order for the type to 18. "The order reflects a strong recovery in long-haul traffic demand from our customer airlines," Chairman and CEO Ahmad Al Zabin noted. Its new order is valued at $1.6 billion at list prices. ALAFCO initially signed up for 12 A350-800s in 2007 and switched them to the larger -900 variant at the Farnborough Airshow.

LAN Airlines placed a firm order for 20 A320neo aircraft as part of its expansion strategy and fleet renewal program. The airline becomes the first in South America to sign a firm order for the re-engined narrowbody. Engine selection will be announced by the airline at a later date, Airbus said.  

More A320neo commitments came from AviancaTaca, which signed an MOU for 51 A320 family aircraft, including 33 A320neos. Board member Jose Efromovich did not specify delivery dates and said engine selection is in "its final stage ad will be announced soon."