Airbus lands £3.5bn order with budget airline

Airbus has landed an order for 75 aircraft worth an estimated £3.5bn.

Low cost airline Wizz Air, has signed a firm contract for an additional 75 A321neo Family aircraft, taking its total order for the largest member of the Airbus single aisle to 434.

The order will mean the Hungarian based airline will have a fleet of 565 A320s.

Airbus has major bases in Filton near Bristol and in Broughton near Chester.

It employs around 3,000 at its plant in the South West where wings and landing gear are designed and tested, and around 4,500 staff at Broughton, which makes wings for all the group’s commercial aircraft.

Shareholders at a general meeting of the Hungarian low cost carrier approved the purchase for an undisclosed sum.

József Váradi, chief executive of Wizz Air said: “With today’s announcement, Wizz Air further reinforces its position as the largest A321neo Family operator in Europe and the Middle East.

“More than half our fleet has already been converted to cutting-edge neo technology. The A321neo’s unparalleled economic efficiency and remarkably low carbon footprint underpin our commitment to provide affordable and sustainable travel options for our customers.

“We have enjoyed a longstanding strategic partnership with Airbus and are steadfast in our commitment to this exceptional technology with one of the largest outstanding order books in the world of more than 350 neo aircraft.”

Wizz Air is an all Airbus operator with a fleet of over 180 A320 Family aircraft currently in operation.

“Thanks to József’s stewardship, Wizz Air has steadily grown to become a formidable airline in the European skies and a great partner to Airbus. The investment in the A321neo is a solid foundation in Wizz Air’s continued expansion strategy. We thank József and everyone at Wizz Air for their unwavering confidence in our partnership and our products,” said Christian Scherer, Airbus chief commercial officer and head of Airbus International.

The A321neo is the largest member of Airbus’ A320neo family, offering market-leading range and performance.

By incorporating new generation engines and sharklets, the A321neo brings a 50 percent noise reduction and more than 20 percent fuel savings and CO2 reduction compared to previous generation single-aisle aircraft, while maximizing passenger comfort in the widest single-aisle cabin aeroplane.

To date nearly 5,200 A321neos have been ordered by airlines across the globe.