IndiGo commits to 180 (Airbus) A320s, largest jet order in aviation history

[Vehl]

India's largest low-cost carrier, IndiGo has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for 180 eco-efficient Airbus A320 aircraft of which 150 will be A320neo’s and 30 will be A320s. It is the largest single firm order number for large jets in commercial aviation history, and also makes IndiGo a launch customer for the A320neo. Engine selection will be announced by the airline at a later date.

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“The A320 Family is the recognised market leader. The A320neo, offering maximum benefit for minimum change, will ensure that this continues to be the case for many years to come,” said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer Customers. “This order positions IndiGo to take full advantage of the predicted growth in Indian air travel and we are delighted that they continue to build their future with Airbus.”

The A320 Family (A318, A319, A320 and A321) is recognised as the benchmark single-aisle aircraft family. Some 6,800 Airbus A320 Family aircraft have been ordered and some 4,500 delivered to more than 310 customers and operators worldwide, making it the world’s best-selling single-aisle aircraft family. With 99.7% reliability and extended servicing periods, the A320 Family has the lowest operating costs of any single aisle aircraft. The A320neo will have over 95% airframe commonality with the A320 Family whilst offering up to 500nm (950 km) more range or two tonnes more payload.

http://www.airbus.com/presscentre/pressreleases/press-release/detail/indigo-commits-to-180-a320s-largest-jet-order-in-aviation-history/325/

Good news for the aviation industry, but I would have preferred Boeing over Airbus

[WinkyDink]

1. Good luck with that "falling from the sky" thing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbus_A320_family#Accidents_and_incidents

[renegade000]

2. Of course, you also have the 737 series

Which actually did literally just fall from the sky in a series of multiple crashes before the NTSB figured out the problem: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_737_rudder_issues

[Angleae]

7. Actually they still haven't figured out the exact problem.

They can replicate the problem by subjecting the actuator to conditions that can't possibly be found in nature.

[marmar]

3. 17 accidents out of several thousands Airbuses making several thousand flights.....

every day?


A little hyperbolic, dontchathink?

[Vehl]

4. yeah

Maybe they went for the cheapest option..as bean-counters always do, throughout the world.

ps:
Well apparently the 320Neo is a newer version. I wonder how it fares against the 737 family, which also has its own share of accidents

[Yavin4]

5. European Socialism

Strikes again.

[pampango]

6. India and the EU are negotiating a trade agreement. That may have convinced India

to lean towards Airbus in this instance.

http://ec.europa.eu/trade/creating-opportunities/bilateral-relations/countries/india/

"The EU and India hope to increase their trade in both goods and services through the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations that they launched in 2007."

"Negotiations for such FTA were launched in June 2007 and, so far, nine negotiating rounds have been held. The tenth round is foreseen from 6-8 March in Delhi."