AIRBUS ended the Paris Air Show on a high by announcing an £11.4bn order – its biggest ever.
Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia signed for 200 A320neo medium-haul aircraft.
The deal is a record for the European manufacturer in terms of aircraft, and the third-largest in value.
It eclipsed a £10bn order for 180 aircraft from India’s Indigo signed on Wednesday (June 22).
AirAsia chief executive officer Tony Fernandes flew into Paris to sign off the deal and wrap up a frenetic event which sent industry records clattering.
Yesterday (Thursday) alone Airbus announced orders for 274 new aircraft. In addition to the AirAsia order Indian airline GoAir signed a deal for 72 A320neo and Japanese airline Skymark ordered two more A380 super jumbos.
John Leahy, Airbus chief commercial officer, also said an unidentified airline had ordered 10 A380 super jumbos.
The announcements brought the total number of Airbus aircraft – with wings built at its Broughton factory – ordered this week to 730, beating the previous record of 728 in 2007.
Airbus president Tom Enders described the AirAsia deal as a ‘landmark’ and the ‘strongest endorsement yet’ of the company’s decision to launch the A320neo.
He said: “With over 1,000 commitments just half a year after launch our A320neo is a real best-seller.
“I have to admit, I largely underestimated the market demand before this show.”
The A320neo is a revamped version of Airbus’s best-selling 150-seat jet, offering fuel savings with new engines from 2015.
Jeff Knight of KeyData said it would not be surprising to see Airbus approaching customers of its major rival Boeing to offer the A320neo.
American Airlines, the operator of an all-Boeing jet fleet, are reportedly in talks with Airbus.
