India’s largest airline by passenger numbers, IndiGo, took delivery of its first Airbus A320neo on 11th March. The delivery makes IndiGo the first A320neo operator in India and in Asia. The carrier is the second airline, after Lufthansa, to receive the A320neo.
IndiGo is one of Airbus’ biggest A320 Family customers having ordered 530 aircraft in total. These include 430 A320neo from orders placed in 2015 (250 A320neo) and 2011 (180 A32neo). IndiGo also placed an order in 2005 for 100 A320s which have all been delivered.
According to Reuters, deliveries of the re-engined A320 have been delayed as Pratt & Whitney addresses technical problems with its Geared Turbofan engines, one of two available types of powerplant on the medium-haul jetliner, along with CFM International’s Leap-1A.
The A320neo “new engine option” incorporates latest-generation engines and Sharklet wing-tip devices, which together deliver 15% in fuel savings from day one, rising to 20% by 2020. According to Airbus, this is equivalent to a reduction of 5,000t of CO2 per aircraft per year.
As of the end of February, Airbus had booked 3,344 orders for the A320neo.