The Airbus A380 is the world’s biggest passenger aircraft
European plane manufacturer Airbus has received an order for 20 A380 superjumbo jets worth $8.3bn (?5bn) from UK-based leasing company Amedeo.
The deal with Amedeo, which used to be called Doric Lease Corp, was finalised at the Singapore Airshow, which is Asia’s biggest aerospace event.
The provisional purchase was first announced at the Paris Airshow in June.
The order marks a vote of confidence in the world’s biggest passenger aircraft, which has seen sales slow recently.
Mark Lapidus, chief executive of Amedeo, said one of the unique benefits of the A380 was its “on-board space and comfort combination” at the lowest per-seat unit cost.
“As world air traffic continues to double every 15 years and airport infrastructure and slots do not, the A380 is the best solution for airlines to capture that growth and build passenger loyalty,” he said.
John Leahy, chief operating officer of Airbus, called the order “a clear recognition of the A380’s long-term market appeal”.
Airbus’ A380 superjumbo entered service in 2007 and is able to carry more than 500 passengers.
When it was first unveiled, Airbus said it aimed to get 750 total orders for the double-decker plane.
However, the company had only received orders for 304 planes by the end of last year – including an unexpected purchase of 50 additional planes from Gulf carrier Emirates in November.
Source BBC
