British Airways parent IAG has confirmed an order for 15 Airbus 320neo jets at a list price of $1.4 billion.
The aircraft will delivered in 2021 and 2022 and are in addition to almost 450 Airbus aircraft IAG already has on order.
The group signed a firm order for 31 Airbus aircraft, including 20 A320neos, in August and firmed up orders for another 15 A320neos in November, to be delivered between 2018 and 2021.
IAG noted a list price of $92 million (£62 million) for an A320neo, but said it had “negotiated a substantial discount”.
It said: “These modern, fuel-efficient aircraft will bring both cost efficiencies and environmental benefits to the airlines’ fleets.”
Airbus claims the A320neo (new engine option) offers “the lowest operating costs of any single-aisle aircraft, delivering 15% fuel burn reduction at entry into service and 20% by 2020, achieved through cabin innovations, latest engine technologies, and overall efficiency improvements”.
The A320s will be allocated for fleet replacement across IAG’s airlines – BA, Aer Lingus, Vueling and Iberia.
The group also placed firm orders for 15 wide body aircraft in August and November – comprising eight A350s, the new rival to the Boeing Dreamliner, and seven A330s.