£10 billion Airbus deal is biggest in aviation history

European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has landed the biggest order in aviation history – a £10 billion contract with an Indian budget airline.

Delhi-based IndiGo has ordered 180 Airbus A320 passenger jets, which will be partly built at the firm’s UK plant in Filton, Bristol.

The order – which is nearly as big as EasyJet’s entire fleet of 193 planes – is the largest number of passenger planes ever ordered in a single deal.

Described as environmentally-friendly, the A320 neo-jet is said to be more fuel efficient than its predecessors with lower carbon emissions, offering savings of 15 per cent.

The A320 is Airbus’s best-selling plane, with more than 6,800 ordered and 4,500 delivered to more than 310 customers worldwide.

IndiGo was only formed six years ago but has grown rapidly along with India’s booming economy.

Airbus boss John Leahy said: ”This order positions IndiGo to take full advantage of the predicted growth in Indian air travel. We are delighted they are continuing to build their future with Airbus.”

Joseph Campbell, an aerospace analyst at Barclays Capital, said: ”This is a great win. It is just where you’d think it would come from, from one of these emerging markets and a fast-growing airline. It is perfect.”