India’s largest airline by market share IndiGo has placed an order for 500 A320 Family Airbus aircrafts, setting the record for the single biggest purchase agreement in the history of commercial aviation. The latest agreement takes the total number of Airbus aircraft on order by IndiGo to 1,330, establishing its position as the world’s biggest A320 Family customer.

The agreement was signed by Rahul Bhatia, promoter and managing director of IndiGo, Dr Venkataramani Sumantran, chairman and non-executive independent director of IndiGo, Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo, Guillaume Faury, Airbus CEO, and Christian Scherer, Airbus chief commercial officer and head of international, at the Paris Air Show 2023.

Commenting on the agreement, Elbers said, “It is difficult to overstate the significance of IndiGo’s new historic order for 500 Airbus A320 Family aircraft. An order book now of almost 1000 aircraft well into the next decade, enables IndiGo to fulfil its mission to continue to boost economic growth, social cohesion and mobility in India. This order strongly reaffirms IndiGo’s belief in the growth of India, in the A320 Family and our strategic partnership with Airbus.”

New Delhi-headquartered IndiGo is among the fastest-growing carriers in the world. According to an official release, over the last two decades, Airbus’ A320neo aircrafts have been instrumental in democratising air travel in India, which is home to millions of first-time flyers and a booming aviation market.

Terming the agreement a new chapter in Airbus and IndiGo’s relationship, Scherer said, “It is a resounding endorsement of the A320 Family’s best-in-class operating economics that have been powering IndiGo’s growth for almost two decades. We cherish our long-standing relationship with IndiGo and are proud of our success together. We look forward to contributing to the growth of India’s air connectivity in its domestic network and into international markets through the expansion of this formidable partnership.”

Worldwide, the A320 Family is the undisputed leader in the single-aisle aircraft category. The aircraft has the widest single-aisle cabin in the sky that incorporates the very latest technologies. It features enhanced aerodynamics and the latest-generation jet engines, resulting in significant reductions in fuel consumption and lower emissions.