Indian low-cost carrier IndiGo has announced it has signed a long-term lease agreement with Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) for seven Airbus A321neo aircraft.
All seven aircraft will be powered by CFM International’s Leading Edge Aviation Propulsion (LEAP) engines, according to the airline.
The planes are scheduled to be delivered in 2021.
Firoz Tarapore, chief executive of DAE, said, “We are delighted to add this fuel-efficient aircraft and popular aircraft type to our leased aircraft portfolio.
“This investment reiterates our commitment to invest in new, fuel-efficient aircraft to minimise carbon and nitrogen emissions as well as noise while at the same time increase performance, reliability and environmental sustainability.
“Further, we are delighted to deepen our long-term relationship with IndiGo and wish them great success with their growth story.
“The introduction of these aircraft will allow the airline to expand the range of their exceptional product offering.”
It comes following the news that IndiGo had emerged as one of the world’s largest airlines by capacity, thanks to a near-total recovery in the Indian domestic travel market.
According to data firm OAG, the Indian carrier is now the seventh-largest in the world by capacity, and the largest outside the US and Chinese markets.
IndiGo reportedly took an additional 44 planes from Airbus in 2020, the most of any customer, ahead of Delta Air Lines and China Southern, as the carrier replaced its older planes with newer, more fuel-efficient models.
Additional reporting by Airlinerwatch.
