BENGALURU (Reuters) – IndiGo, India’s largest airline, on Monday placed an order for 500 Airbus narrowbody jets, the largest ever plane deal by number of aircraft, overtaking an earlier deal by rival Air India that was firmed up on Tuesday.
Following are the biggest plane deals, by number of aircraft.
INDIGO – 500 JETS – 2023
IndiGo on Monday agreed to buy 500 single-aisle jets from Airbus, making it the single largest order of any aircraft. The order is expected to include the popular A320neo family of planes including the longer range A321XLRs which will help expand its network into Europe and deeper into Southeast Asia.
The airline hopes to take deliveries of the jets from 2030 to 2035.
AIR INDIA – 470 JETS – 2023
Air India on Tuesday finalised an order for 470 jetliners that includes 250 planes from Airbus and 220 from Boeing, with options for buying 70 more from the U.S. planemaker.
The Tata-owned airline’s order comprises 400 narrowbody and 70 widebody planes. Air India is expected to take delivery of the first few widebody Airbus A350 jets by the end of the year.
AMERICAN AIRLINES – 460 JETS – 2011
American Airlines in 2011 placed orders with Airbus and Boeing for a total of 460 airliners.
The airline placed an initial order for 260 Airbus A320 aircraft with an option to buy an additional 365 for a possible total order of 625. The airline also placed an initial order with Boeing for 200 of its 737-family of aircraft, with options to buy an additional 100.
INDIGO PARTNERS – 430 JETS – 2017
U.S. private equity firm Indigo Partners in 2017 placed an order for 430 Airbus A320neo jets for the four carriers in which airline pioneer Bill Franke’s investment firm has a stake – U.S.-based Frontier Airlines, Mexico’s Volaris, Chilean carrier JetSmart and Hungary’s Wizz.
INDIGO – 300 JETS – 2019
IndiGo in 2019 placed an order for 300 of Airbus’s A320neo family of planes.
INDIGO PARTNERS – 255 JETS – 2021
Franke’s Indigo Partners in 2021 placed an order for 255 Airbus A321neo jets in the first major fleet purchase since COVID-19, betting on a quick snapback in tourist travel after the pandemic.
INDIGO – 250 JETS – 2015
India’s biggest airline in 2015 finalised an order for 250 Airbus A320neo aircraft.
UNITED AIRLINES – 200 JETS – 2022
United Airlines in December said it was ordering 100 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 100 737 MAXs in a push for post-pandemic growth, replacing older, less-efficient aircraft.
