DUBAI: In its largest single order ever, European plane maker Airbus on Wednesday clinched the deal for 430 aircraft from US-based private equity fund, Indigo Partners, in a deal valued at $49.5 billion in list prices.
With this, Airbus stole Boeing’s day-one thunder (Emirates $15.1b order for 787-10s) at the this year’s Dubai Air Show. But Boeing, too, managed to grab another sizable order on Wednesday with flydubai committing to 225 aircraft for its 737 MAX type in a deal worth $27 billion.
The combined $76.5 billion in deals kept the momentum alive on the third day of the air show.
The surprise 430-aircraft order by Airbus comprises a commitment for 273 A320neos (new engine options) and 157 A321neos. These would be lapped up by four ultra low-cost airlines including Wizz Air from Hungary, US-based Frontier Airlines, Volaris from Mexico, and a three-and-a-half month old Chilean airline JetSMART.
The plane maker, however, refused to divulge details on its ongoing talks with Emirates for a potential order for additional A380 superjombos.
The order for Dubai’s flydubai, meanwhile, follows orders placed in 2008 and 2013, bringing the total number of aircraft the airline has on order, to 320. It also marks the third aircraft order in the carrier’s eight-year history.
Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of flydubai, said the order underlines the success of “flydubai’s founding vision helping to strengthen trade and tourism links across its network and has contributed to the enhanced connectivity of Dubai’s aviation hub”. He added: “We look forward to the arrival of the new aircraft from 2019 in support of our future ambitions.”
The end of the year will see flydubai have a fleet of 61 Next-Generation Boeing 737-800 aircraft and Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, in addition to a pipeline of 70 aircraft due for delivery by 2023.
Analysts are of the view that the two plane makers will be engaged in cut throat competition in the single-aisle segment. “A320neo is a good aircraft and this really does keep the pressure on Boeing with its 737Max,” said Andrew Charlton, managing director of Geneva-based Aviation Advocacy.
