Airbus has finalised a £6.13bn ($9.5bn) contract for 110 of its single-aisle A320 family aircraft with Australian airline Qantas, the largest in the country’s aviation history.
The firm order for 78 A320neo and 32 A320s, as well as an unspecified number of purchase rights beyond that, follows a commitment signed in August and will help with Qantas’s fleet renewal and expansion plans.
The A320neo’s world-beating wings and sharklets – the wingtip fins that will help to deliver savings of 15% in fuel and CO2 emissions – are designed and partly made at Airbus’s plant in Filton.
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said the deal would underpin the airline’s plans to launch two new Asian brands, including a low-cost tie-up with Japan Airlines and Mitsubishi Corp and a separate joint-venture premium airline.
“The Airbus A320 will be the launch aircraft for Qantas’ new premium airline based in Asia and will support Jetstar’s expansion plans – including the establishment of Jetstar Japan," he said.
Airbus chief operating officer John Leahy added: “Coming from one of the world’s great aviation pioneering companies, this order is a great endorsement of Airbus and of our eco-efficient aircraft products.”
Mr Leahy added that growth in the aviation industry is “flattening out" at the moment. “The recovery after the last recession overshot," he added. "We see it pretty flat at the end of 2011 and maybe the beginning of 2012 but no double-dip recession."
As Bristol Business News reported last month, Airbus has said it may help customers with aircraft financing if the euro debt crisis makes it necessary as concerns grow about European banks’ ability to fund increasing plane orders.
A320 family orders to date exceed 7,900, making it the world’s best-selling single-aisle aircraft family. More than 330 customers and operators have taken delivery of 4,790 so far. Meanwhile the A320neo, launched just 10 months ago, has already received 1,245 orders and commitments. It can fly 500 nautical miles (950 kilometres) further or carry two tonnes more payload than existing A320 models.
Airlines can buy it with engines – CFM International’s LEAP-X or Pratt & Whitney’s PurePower PW1100G.
Qantas will make its engine decision at a later date.
