First Airbus A320neo F-WNEO MSN6101 takes off on its first flight at Toulouse Blagnac airport.
First Airbus A320neo F-WNEO MSN6101 takes off on its first flight at Toulouse Blagnac airport. Image courtesy Airbus.

IndiGo agrees to buy 250 A320neo in largest Airbus order

October 15, 2014 6 Comments 309 Views

India’s largest domestic airline IndiGo, has entered in to a firm agreement with European airframer Airbus S.A.S. to procure 250 A320neo (new engine option) narrow body jetliners. This memorandum of understanding will be the largest single order in the history of Airbus by number of aircraft.

Earlier to this, IndiGo has placed a 100 aircraft order for A320 classic and another order for 150 A320neo and 30 A320 classic which was the largest at that time. While not confirmed by the airline, there is speculation that IndiGo has converted some of its A320neo orders to A321neos.

IndiGo_A320_VT-INT_LD_Nose

The engine selection is not expected to be made any time soon. IndiGo uses International Aero Engines V2500 on its existing A320 classic fleet and has chosen the Pratt & Whitney Pure Power PW1100G-JM Geared Turbo-Fan (GTF) engine for its existing 150 A320neo order.

Soon after IndiGo placed its 150 A320neo order at the Paris air show 2011, Malaysian low cost carrier AirAsia topped it with a 200 A320neo order at the same air show. The largest aircraft order record is held by American Airlines’ parent AMR with 460 narrow-body single aisle jet aircraft ordered and another 465 on option.

About Devesh Agarwal

A electronics and automotive product management, marketing and branding expert, he was awarded a silver medal at the Lockheed Martin innovation competition 2010. He is ranked 6th on Mashable's list of aviation pros on Twitter and in addition to Bangalore Aviation, he has contributed to leading publications like Aviation Week, Conde Nast Traveller India, The Economic Times, and The Mint (a Wall Street Journal content partner). He remains a frequent flier and shares the good, the bad, and the ugly about the Indian aviation industry without fear or favour.

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6 comments

  1. Oussama
    October 16, 2014 at 22:01

    Hopefully that will help in expanding services to more second and third tier airports. Devesh, would the aviation infrastructure (airports, ATC, MRO) support this expansion?

    • Devesh Agarwal
      October 17, 2014 at 14:47

      ATC infrastructure is not the issue. Runway length are tier III cities are the issue. May airports do not have 5000ft plus runways.

      MRO, IndiGo sends all their planes outside India for servicing.

  2. Anish Abraham
    October 17, 2014 at 14:44

    Is this new deal an amendment or modification to the exisiting order? Or do they really now have over 500 narrowbody Airbus aircraft on order?!

    • Devesh Agarwal
      October 17, 2014 at 14:46

      IndiGo has just one or two more A320ceo from their first 100 order. Presently on order is 150 A320neo + 30 A320ceo. Now 250 A320neo. So total about 400 + 30.

  3. Nick
    October 17, 2014 at 20:31

    My guess is that they will continue with their buy and leaseback arrangement , and retirement of Aircraft older than 6 years. That is the only way this order makes sense. Indian passenger growth, even though fast, cannot handle these many aircraft .

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