Aerospace giant Airbus has continued to win new orders at the Paris Air Show as the world’s largest aviation industry gathering entered its third day.
The European group signed a memorandum of understanding with an unnamed Asian airline for 60 of its A320neo (new engine option) short-haul aircraft family. It also booked a firm order with Vietnam airline VietJetAir for six A321s. 
The VietJetAir order was signed by the airline’s president and CEO Madam Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, who said: “Since we took delivery of our first A321 in March this year we have benefitted strongly from the additional capacity offered by the aircraft and its low operating costs.
“We are therefore placing this additional order for the A321 to meet demand on some of our most popular routes.”
VietJetAir, which launched in 2011, now owns a fleet of 25 A320 family aircraft with which it covers Vietnam and a number of destinations across Asia.
Following the latest deal, it has a total of 69 Airbus aircraft on order and also holds purchase rights for another 30 aircraft.
Airbus president and CEO Fabrice Brégier said he was pleased to see the airline renewing its confidence in the company and added: “The A320 family offers the lowest operating costs in the single aisle market and this latest order from VietJetAir further confirms the growing popularity of the A321 as the largest member of the product line.”
The A320neo aircraft family is made of updated versions of the A320 commercial jetliners featuring new more efficient engines, fuel-saving winglets and upgraded cabins.
Speaking about the Asian airline order for the A320neo, John Leahy – Airbus chief operating officer, customers – said: “Airbus welcomes this latest commitment for the A320neo family from a customer in the fast-growing Asia region.
“The A320neo is the best-selling single aisle aircraft family in the world. The neo offers airlines a unique combination of unbeatable economics and outstanding cabin comfort. It’s no wonder the A320neo family is clearly recognised as the industry benchmark in the single aisle segment.”
The aircraft range’s sharklets, also known as winglets, are innovative vertical wing tips designed to reduce drag – and so save fuel – by engineers at Airbus’s Filton plant, where it employs 4,000 people.
According to Airbus, the winglets and engines together deliver fuel savings of more than 15%, placing the aircraft among the most cost-efficient on the market.
The A320neo range has become the world’s best-selling single aisle product line with nearly 3,800 orders received from 72 customers since its launch in 2010, giving it a near 60% of the market.
The entire A320 aircraft family comes in four models – the A318, A319, A320 and A321 – and can seat between 100 to 240 passengers on domestic and long-range routes. To date, more than 11,700 aircraft in the family have been order and 6,500-plus delivered to more than 300 operators worldwide.
