Airbus yesterday pulled off twin orders together worth $2.8 billion. The first was for 30 A320 family aircraft worth $1.9 billion for Kingfisher Airlines. The second was from TAP Portugal for ten A350s and seven A330-200s.
Kingfisher - which the day before ordered 20 ATR aircraft -yesterday underscored its ambitious expansions plans with the A320 family aircraft. Deliveries of the aircraft, which will comprise a mix of A319s and A320s, are due to begin in early 2008.
Kingfisher already flies seven Airbus A320s on routes among Indian cities, and also has three A319s on order which are due for delivery by December 05. Its new aircraft will be powered by International Aero Engines V2500s, like its existing fleet.
“We have had a wonderful start to our Airbus A320 services within India – our guests love the aircraft and are delighted with what we offer, which is an attractive and unique travel experience at an affordable price,” says Dr Vijay Mallya, Chairman of UB Group, one of India’s largest companies and the parent company of Kingfisher Airlines.
“And when you like a product, you go out and buy more, which is what we are doing today with our additional Airbus A320 order.”
Kingfisher is a rapidly growing force in India, having taken a six per cent share of the domestic market in just six months. The Airline announced the acquisition of five Airbus A380s, five Airbus A-330s and five Airbus A350s – for use on international services - earlier this year. Its latest acquisition means that it will have an A320 Family fleet totalling more than 40 aircraft.
In a second order announcement yesterday, TAP Portugal agreed to buy ten A350s and seven A330-200s.
The order brings the total orders for the A350 to 143 aircraft from ten customers.
Source: Flight Daily News
