Low-cost carrier AirAsia finally let everyone fully in on the worst-kept secret at the Paris show, with a spectacular firm order for 200 A320neos.
The aircraft will be powered by the CFM International Leap engine.
"The best we keep for the end of air shows," said Airbus chief Tom Enders. "We have been impeccable today."
AirAsia's agreement is the largest ever order for the A320 family.
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Fernandes told Flightglobal that he would not convert any of AirAsia's current A320 backlog. The deal means the carrier's A320 orders have reached 375.
"We're taking all of them," Fernandes said. Airbus had previously indicated that customers would be barred from converting from the baseline A320 to the A320neo.
It capped a runaway week for Airbus as customers illustrated the popularity of the re-engined A320neo by taking orders and commitments into four figures just a few months after the jet was launched.
AirAsia Group chief executive Tony Fernandes joked that he signed the deal on Valentine's Day, after encouraging Airbus chief operating officer for customers John Leahy to dance.
"John said 'I don't dance' - so I said 'I don't sign'," said Fernandes. "So Tom [Enders] said in his German paratroop voice: 'John - dance!'"
AirAsia's deal is worth $18.2 billion at catalogue prices, ranking it as the third largest, in financial terms, in Airbus's history.
"One and two are Emirates and Qatar but they don't count because they have oil and stuff," said Fernandes. "We had to do it the hard way."
Enders described the deal as a "landmark" and the "strongest endorsement yet" of the airframer's decision to launch the A320neo.
Airbus rewrote its order backlog during the show, with firm deals and commitments for 730 aircraft from 16 customers - not counting the IndiGo deal for 180 jets, which Airbus said it deliberately excluded from its show count.
This comprised firm purchase orders for 418 aircraft worth $44 billion and memoranda of understanding for 312 jets potentially worth $28.2 billion.
The airframer has achieved 1,029 total orders and commitments for the A320neo, including 667 at Paris worth nearly $61 billion.
"I have to admit I largely underestimated the market demand for A320neo before the show," said Enders.
"Le Bourget 2011 is a strong confirmation of our product strategy."
Source: Flight Daily News
