Story ID: GPindigoneos10292019
Airbus Lands 300-strong A320neo Order from IndiGo
By: Gregory Polek
Caption: The Indian low-cost carrier has now committed to taking 730 of the European-made narrowbodies. 
Word Count: 328
Airbus landed one of its largest-ever aircraft orders from a single operator with the sale of 300 A320neo-family jets to India’s IndiGo, the companies announced Tuesday. The order consists of a mix of A320neos, A321neos, and A321XLRs and takes IndiGo’s total number of airplanes on order for the Airbus narrowbody family to 730.

IndiGo accepted delivery of its first A320neo in March 2016 and has since expanded its fleet of single-aisle jets to 97, ranking it as the world’s largest. IndiGo also operates 128 A320ceos.

“This order is an important milestone, as it reiterates our mission of strengthening air connectivity in India, which will in turn boost economic growth and mobility,” said IndiGo CEO Ronojoy Dutta. “India is expected to continue with its strong aviation growth and we are well on our way to build the world’s best air transportation system, to serve more customers and deliver on our promise of providing low fares and a courteous, hassle-free experience to them.”

Based on the most recent list prices published by Airbus, the value of the deal could total $33 billion. IndiGo has not chosen an engine supplier for the airplanes. The airline placed an order at June’s Paris Air Show for CFM Leap-1A turbofans to power 280 Airbus airplanes already on order, signaling a switch from original engine supplier Pratt & Whitney following a spate of durability findings involving the PW1100G.  

The inclusion of the A321XLR in the order proved noteworthy as well, as Airbus prepares to deliver the first of the longest-range narrowbody it has every produced in 2023. The XLR’s specifications who a range of 4,700 nautical miles, or 700 nm beyond the standard A321LR, allowing for nonstop service between such city pairs as Beirut-Cape Town and Dublin-Recife as well as from points in Japan to deep in Australia and from interior Europe deep into North America and vice versa.