IndiGo buys 180 Airbus aircrafts for $16 bn
Budget carrier IndiGo has agreed to buy 180 Airbus aircraft dominated by the first order for the upgraded "A320neo," making the airline a launch customer for the planned revamp, Airbus said on Tuesday.
January 12, 2011 / 08:41 IST
Budget carrier IndiGo has agreed to buy 180 Airbus aircraft dominated by the first order for the upgraded "A320neo," making the airline a launch customer for the planned revamp, Airbus said on Tuesday.
Worth an estimated USD 15.6 billion at list prices, the deal was touted by the European planemaker as the largest ever single commercial order for large passenger jets, a category of planes with over 100 seats in which Airbus competes with Boeing.The order includes 30 classic A320s -- Airbus's best-selling model which carries 150 people on short and medium routes -- and 150 upgraded versions of the same type of aircraft which Airbus says will offer airlines significant fuel savings from 2016.Airbus launched the "A320neo" - an upgraded version of its best-selling A320 150-seat passsenger jet -- in December but had not so far signed up any customers.IndiGo, which had already ordered 100 Airtbus A320s in 2005, said last August it planned to buy 150 more planes over two to three years as it looks to fly international routes.India's aviation sector, which has close to a dozen carriers, is expanding sharply as the booming economy revives the market for air travel. Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
