Strong demand for its fuel-efficient A320neo aircraft helped planemaker Airbus secure 211 orders and commitments worth $20.5bn (£13bn) at the Dubai Airshow.
The success of the A320neo (new engine option), which is now the fastest-selling airliner ever, is a major boost for engineers at Airbus's Filton plant who designed its pioneering 'sharklet' wing tips which cut fuel use.
Airbus's Dunbai order intake includes 135 firm orders worth $13.7billion (£8.7bn) for 130 A320neo and five A380 superjumbos – a tally that helps position underpin the European firm's lead position in both the single-aisle, short-haul market with the A320 and jumbo, long-range market with the A380. The superjumbo's wings, fuel system and landing gear were designed at Filton. Wing sections for all Airbus aircraft are built by GKN Aerospace on the same site.
Qatar Airways made the single largest firm order (50 A320neo and five A380s) while there were also firm orders for the A320neo from aircraft leasing firms ALAFCO (50) and ACG (30), which Airbus says demonstrates the A320neo’s strong investment appeal by lessors.
Spirit Airlines made the largest commitment at the show for 75 A320 Family aircraft - 45 A320neos and 30 A320 with sharklets.
The A320neo, which is scheduled to enter into service from 2015, incorporates latest generation engines and large sharklets which together will deliver 15% in fuel savings. The A320neo has more than 95% airframe commonality making it an easy fit into airlines' existing fleets while it also has up to 500 nautical miles (950 kilometres) more range or two tonnes more payload at a given range. The neo has now achieved 1,420 orders and commitments less than a year after launch.
Meanwhile the A380, typically seating 525 passengers in a three-class layout, can fly 8,300 nautical miles/15,300 kilometres non-stop. More than 16m passengers have already flown on the aircraft, total orders for which now stand at more than 243 from 18 customers.
