GECAS

GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) has placed a $6.4bn firm order with Airbus for 60 A320neo family aircraft.

The order by the aviation leasing arm of General Electric includes the A321neo, and all the aircraft will be equipped with CFM’s LEAP-X engine.

GECAS president and CEO Norman Liu and Airbus COO Customers John Leahy jointly announced the deal at the ongoing Paris Airshow.

Liu said: "The A320neo family is the ideal solution for our customers who are seeking a product, which offers them both attractive operating economics and reliable technology.

"We see this fuel-efficient aircraft as a mainstay in our single-aisle portfolio for the years to come."

With this new order, GECAS’ orders for A320 family aircraft reach 465, including 120 A320neo aircraft.

"GECAS’ order…underscores the continuing strong market demand for these innovative, fuel-efficient and productive aircraft."

Leahy said: "GECAS’ order for more of our best-selling A320neo aircraft, underscores the continuing strong market demand for these innovative, fuel-efficient and productive aircraft.

"The unmatched, low operating costs and proven high dispatch reliability of the A320 family make it a strong asset in GECAS’ portfolio."

With more than 11,700 orders to date and more than 6,500 aircraft delivered, the A320 family is the world’s best-selling, single-aisle product line.

A320neo, the newest member of the pipeline, features new-generation engines and Sharklets, which together offer a 15% greater fuel efficiency.

Airbus has so far logged more than 3,800 firm orders for the A320neo family, from 72 customers worldwide.

Image: A GECAS A320neo aircraft. Photo: courtesy of Fixion / Airbus SAS.