IndiGo has matched rival Air India by placing the largest aircraft order in history with Airbus.
India’s largest airline by market share agreed to acquire 500 A320 family aircraft worth more than $60 billion at advertised prices.
Touted as the biggest single purchase agreement in the history of commercial aviation, the deal latest takes the total number of Airbus aircraft on order by IndiGo to 1,330.
Clinched on the first day of the Paris air show, the acquisition establishes the Indian low cost carrier’s position as the world’s biggest customer for the short-haul A320 family.
It equals a 500-strong order made by Air India in February for a mix of Airbus and Boeing aircraft, including long-haul types.
New Delhi-based IndiGo is among the fastest growing carriers in the world, taking its first A320 in March 2016.
IndiGo is run by former KLM chief Pieter Elbers as chief executive.
He said: “It is difficult to overstate the significance of IndiGo’s new historic order for 500 Airbus A320 family aircraft.
“An order book now of almost 1,000 aircraft well into the next decade, enables IndiGo to fulfil its mission to continue to boost economic growth, social cohesion and mobility in India.
“This order strongly reaffirms IndiGo’s belief in the growth of India, in the A320 family and in our strategic partnership with Airbus.”
The European aircraft manufacturer’s chef commercial officer Christian Scherer said: “This landmark order marks a new chapter in Airbus and IndiGo’s relationship that is democratising affordable air travel for millions of people in the world’s fastest growing aviation market.
“It is also a resounding endorsement of the A320 family’s best-in-class operating economics that have been powering IndiGo’s growth for almost two decades.
“We look forward to contributing to the growth of India’s air connectivity in its domestic network and into international markets through the expansion of this formidable partnership.”
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabian budget carrier Flyynas firmed up an order for 30 new A320neos, bringing its total order with Airbus up to 120 aircraft, including 10 extra long range A321XRLs, as it expands international routes and destinations.