IndiGo Airlines, one of the most budget airlines of India has finalised the purchase of 250 A320neo aircraft, the company said on Monday, In a biggest-ever order by number of planes in a deal worth $26.55 billion handing the European company at list prices. The sale confirms a draft deal signed in October.
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The deal also makes IndiGo the largest airline customer for the Airbus A320-family of aircraft.
Airbus said it now has a backlog for more than 4,100 A320neo planes including the order from IndiGo.
For decades, Indians depended on the nation’s bone-jolting railways to travel but cheap air fares have encouraged tens of millions of increasingly affluent Indians to fly.
IndiGo is the largest player in India’s budget carrier market with a 38.4% share.
This deal extends IndiGo’s the Airbus lead against Boeing in the orders for the upgraded narrowbody aircraft segment.
Airbus COO (customers) John Leahy said: “It fills us with pride that IndiGo, India’s largest airline and one of the early launch customers for the A320neo, is coming back for more of our benchmark aircraft…” The “neo” is designed to consume 15 percent less fuel than the traditional A320 plane.
In a statement issued by airbus.com, Aditya Ghosh, President of IndiGo said, “This new order further reaffirms IndiGo’s commitment to the long-term development of affordable air transportation in India and overseas”.
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It boasts aerodynamic improvements, trimmed weight and more efficient engines.
