AIRBUS continued to pile up orders for its revamped A320neo passenger jet at the Paris Air Show yesterday, as Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin arrived to promote his country’s aerospace industry.
Three airlines and a leasing company revealed plans to acquire 121 more of Airbus A320neo aircraft.
On Monday, the European manufacturer announced deals for 126 A320neos.
Indian budget carrier IndiGo could today confirm a $16bn order for 180 A320s provisionally made in January, industry sources said.
Analysts said the healthy demand from buyers at the show this week has provided evidence of a solid upturn in the air transport industry, mainly powered by emerging markets in Asia. The sharp rise in oil prices earlier this year has given buyers a new sense of urgency to get more fuel-efficient aircraft.
Yesterday, JetBlue Airways announced a memorandum of understanding for the airline to purchase 40 A320neo aircraft.
In addition, the MOU will allow JetBlue to convert 30 of its current orders for A320s to the larger A321 model with enhanced wing-tip devices called Sharklets.
The New York-based airline has long made the A320 family the core of its fleet, starting with the delivery of its very first aircraft in 1999, an Airbus A320, one of 173 it had ordered before yesterday’s announcement.
Garuda Indonesia also signed an MOU for the purchase of 25 A320 aircraft.
The MOU covers 15 standard A320s followed by 10 A320neo aircraft for operation by the carrier’s domestic low cost unit Citilink, replacing its existing Boeing 737 fleet.
Leasing company CIT, of New York, also signed an MOU with Airbus for 50 A320neo family aircraft and TransAsia Airways, of Taiwan, ordered six A321neos.
Airbus chief operating officer John Leahy said it had 544 commitments for the new A320 aircraft.
“We have exceeded our expectations for the new aircraft and the week is not yet over,” he said.
“We had hoped to have received 500 orders for the A320neo and we are closer to 600.”
Airbus is marketing the revamped version of its A320, but Boeing is holding back on deciding whether to upgrade or redesign its 737 passenger jet, the best-selling plane in aviation history.
Leahy believes Airbus has the upper hand with the A320neo, whose more efficient engines could save airlines 15% in fuel costs.
Boeing president Pat Shanahan conceded the Seattle-based manufacturer might lose some custom while it considers the future of its 737. He said a decision on the new strategy would be made by the end of the year.
Mr Shanahan spoke as Boeing announced new orders for a further 15 of its 737-800 jet for Norwegian Air Shuttle and 10 for Malaysia Airlines. Norwegian Air Shuttle also finalised a contract for three 787 Dreamliners.
Boeing also announced that GECAS, the aircraft-leasing arm of General Electric, would buy eight long-range 777-300ER jets and two freighter versions of the 747-8.
It was also disclosed that Russian flag carrier Aeroflot was the buyer earlier this year of eight 777-300ERs which had previously been attributed to an unidentified customer.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin arrived at the air show after meeting French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
He toured the show halls, which houses a sizeable contingent of Russian aerospace companies, and watched three Russian aircraft take part in the flying display, including the Beriev water bomber.
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