Airbus wins order for 75 A320neo planes from leasing group ACG

The A320neo order from Airbus brings ACG's Airbus fleet to 190 planes, and follows an order for 50 Boeing 737 MAX jets earlier this year. (EPA Images pic) PARIS: European aerospace giant Airbus said Friday that it had secured an order for 75 of its A320neo jets from Aviation Capital Group (ACG), a leasing company that is gearing up for increased demand for more fuel efficient planes.

The order brings ACG's Airbus fleet to 190 planes, and follows an order for 50 Boeing 737 MAX jets earlier this year.

"Placing the largest order in our nearly 40-year history is a statement of confidence in the long-term future of air travel," ACG's chief executive Thomas Baker said in the Airbus statement.

According to ACG's parent company Tokyo Century, a Japanese leasing firm, the 75 planes have a total list price of nearly US$12 billion, though aircraft makers usually offer discounts with large orders.

The A320neo is 20% more fuel efficient than the previous A320s, a single-aisle jet that is one of the world's most popular passenger planes.

"Demand for aircraft operating leases is expected to continue increasing as global passenger traffic grows and airlines accelerate the replacement of existing fleets with next-generation aircraft," Tokyo Century said in a statement.