The Indian company IndiGo orders 500 Airbus A320, absolute record

History! Airbus struck a blow, this Monday, on the first day of the Bourget air show near Paris. The Indian company Indigo has signed a firm order for 500 aircraft from the A320neo family, the European giant's "best seller". A contract worth 55 billion dollars, at the list price. These aircraft will be delivered between 2030 and 2035. This contract marks an absolute record in terms of volume in the history of commercial aeronautics. It provides further proof of the strong rebound in demand, after the trough linked to the Covid crisis, and the return of giant orders. With this contract, Indigo, which controls 50% of the Indian market, becomes the first customer of the A320neo with a total of 1,230 aircraft ordered. The company is gearing up to meet the strong demand in India, where a growing middle class now has the means to afford a plane ticket. Faced with the explosion in demand, Air India had also signed a giant order for 470 aircraft, divided between Airbus (250) and Boeing (220).

Indigo also acquires, with the A320neo, the youngest and most fuel-efficient medium-haul aircraft on the market. The neo versions offer a 25% reduction in kerosene consumption and therefore CO2 emissions by the same amount. Airbus is already shaping up to be the big winner of the traditional battle for orders at Le Bourget, with 533 planes sold, including 30 A320neos from the Saudi Flynas and 3 A350s from Air Mauritius.