Crankin' at the Paris Air Show: Airbus Seals Billion-Dollar Deal for Over 40 Planes from Saudi Leasing Giant AviLease
Saudi firm places billion-dollar order for more than 40 aircraft with Airbus
🔗 ntv.de 🔗 AFP
Semble it's party time at the 2023 Paris Air Show! This colossal aviation event, which took place at Le Bourget, Paris, commenced on Monday and kicked off with a bang as European aircraft manufacturer, Airbus, scored the first order of the show. The lucky recipient? None other than AviLease, a brand spankin' new Saudi Arabian aircraft leasing company! They've gone on a shopping spree, placing an order for a whopping 40 aircraft from Airbus, worth nearly seven billion euros, give or take a few.
The A320neo family of aircraft, which makeup a significant portion of the order, boasts a few nifty features such as a 20% reduction in fuel consumption thanks to snazzy engines and lightweight materials. The A350F freighter aircraft, also part of the deal, claims to be at least 20% more fuel-efficient than its granny.
It’s worth noting that the catalog prices quoted are from 2018; Airbus ain't been calculating it that way for a hot minute. The actual purchase price varies wildly depending on the nitty-gritty details of the deal and is hush-hush, Airbus says.
AviLease might be fresh off the assembly line, having only rolled into town back in 2022, but they've already amassed quite the fleet, owning around 200 planes from Airbus and Boeing and providing services to roughly 50 airlines around the globe.
Historically, Le Bourget has been a battleground for Airbus and Boeing, the two heavyweights in the aircraft manufacturing game. But this year, Boeing's all about customer support, with their CEO Dave Calhoun cancelling his appearance at the show following a tragic plane crash in India. A Boeing 737 MAX, carrying 241 souls, plummeted to the ground minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad, claims 38 lives on impact and leaves one unbelievably lucky survivor.
Sources: ntv.de | AFP
The Full Monty on AviLease's Order:
If you wanna get down to the nitty-gritty, here's the lowdown on AviLease's order:
- A320neo Family Aircraft: A whopping 55 units in total, with 30 firm orders and 25 options on the table. The exact mix between A320neos and A321neos hasn't been specified, but one thing's for sure: the A321XLR ain’t included.
- A350F Freighters: 22 units in all, with 10 firm orders and 12 nifty little options just waiting to be snatched up.
The cost of these babies? Top secret. But given the types of aircraft involved, you can bet your sweet bippy it's gonna be a pretty penny.
As for when these babies will be ready to fly, deliveries of the firm orders are slated for between 2030 and 2033.
This ain't AviLease's first rodeo with Airbus; this order marks the young leasing giant's first direct purchase from the European manufacturer. It aligns perfectly with their strategy to beef up their portfolio and meet the ever-growing demand for aviation services, particularly in Saudi Arabia.
The community and employment policies of the European aircraft manufacturer Airbus might have played a significant role in securing their billion-dollar deal with the newly established Saudi leasing giant AviLease, considering the latter's rapid expansion in the aviation industry. In the finance sector, it's uncertain how much the A320neo Family Aircraft and A350F Freighters from Airbus cost, but their purchase is a testament to AviLease's growth in the aerospace industry, making them a potential employer to numerous skilled professionals.
