Kingfisher to buy 50 Airbus aircraft

The Vijay Mallya-owned Kingfisher Airlines has agreed to purchase up to 50 aircraft from Airbus.

A memorandum of understanding to this effect was signed by Vijay Mallya, chairman, UB Group (the parent company of Kingfisher Airlines), and John Leahy, Airbus chief operating officer (customers), at a ceremony at the 47th International Paris Air show at Le Bourget on Wednesday.

The agreement is for 15 A350-800 XWBs in addition to the five converted from their original order for the A350, 10 A330-200s, five A340-500s and 20 A320 family aircraft.

"Our strategy at Kingfisher is to open new long haul routes and expand existing ones. With the A340-500 and then the A350 XWB we will be able to offer direct routes between India and the United States for example. The A330 will allow us to expand services to Europe and the A320s will help us to meet demand in our home region," said Mallya in a media release.

"Kingfisher has reaffirmed its faith in the A350 XWB and we are delighted with this. Kingfisher Airlines have ordered Airbus aircraft covering nearly all our product range, and our partnership could not be better. This agreement is further evidence of the confidence dynamic airlines such as Kingfisher Airlines are showing towards our modern family of aircraft," said John Leahy.

Kingfisher is a rapidly growing force in Indian civil aviation and has already become one of the country's largest airlines. Including the latest MoU, Kingfisher Airlines and its partner airline Air Deccan, now have a commitment for a total of 176 Airbus aircraft covering the single aisle, widebody, including the A380 and the Airbus corporate jet.

The A320 family, which also includes A318, the A319 and the A321, is recognised as the benchmark in the single-aisle aircraft market. So far over 5,070 A320 family aircraft have been ordered, making the aircraft the fastest selling commercial jetliner ever.

The A350 XWB, is Airbus' newest aircraft and will be the world's most technologically advanced. It is designed to increase productivity, offer unparalleled levels of passenger comfort in its class whilst reducing operating costs. Addressing environmental concerns, the A350 XWB will set new standards in fuel-efficiency. Airbus is an EADS company. -- PTI

(Above) Aerial View of the Bourget airport during the 47th Paris International Air Show in Paris.