A320 aircraft

Ireland-based SMBC Aviation Capital has placed a $11.8bn order for 115 Airbus A320 family aircraft, said to be the largest ever single-aisle aircraft request by a leasing firm.

The latest order, involving 110 A320neo, five A320ceo aircraft, brings the leasing firm’s overall Airbus aircraft ordered to 206 from the A320 family.

SMBC Aviation Capital CEO Peter Barrett said: "The A320 family has played a crucial role in SMBC Aviation Capital’s success to-date, and this order should be taken as a clear sign both of our commitment to the new generation of single-aisle aircraft as well as our ambitious plans to grow our business.

"The A320neo programme is progressing well, and we believe that the timing and structure of the order that we have placed will complement the specific needs and requirements of our customer base."

"We believe that the timing and structure of the order that we have placed will complement the specific needs and requirements of our customer base."

Airbus’s A320neo aircraft have Pratt & Whitney PW1100G PurePower and CFM International’s LEAP-1A, with Sharklets (wing-tip devices), claimed to deliver 15% in fuel savings.

In addition, the new A320 versions would have about 95% airframe commonality with the A320ceo versions, further enabling it to match with existing A320 Family fleets.

As of early July, Airbus received orders for 2,700 new engine option aircraft, comprising a vital percentage of the over 10,300 overall orders logged for the entire A320 Family.

SMBC Aviation currently operates a fleet of 393 planes, with the aircraft ranging from twin-aisle Boeing 747s and Airbus A340 to regional jets from Embraer.

Image: Airbus A320 aircraft in SMBC livery. Photo: courtesy of Airbus SAS.

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