Airbus Updates No.4695

 

Shohin Airlines discloses order for four Airbus A320neo Family

Farnborough, United Kingdom, 21 July 2026 – Shohin Airlines, established in Dushanbe, Tajikistan as a private airline company, has disclosed an order for four Airbus A320neo Family aircraft, marking the first ever Airbus order for the airline. The agreement, which includes  two A320neo and two A321neo aircraft, was included in Airbus' end of June order book as an undisclosed order. 

Registered in June 2025, the airline aims to expand a wide route network and build a strong brand that represents Tajikistan on the global aviation stage. 

The A320neo aircraft will feature 176 seats and the A321neo will feature 196 seats in a dual class layout. These new aircraft will be helping the airline launch services to regional and global markets.

“The signing of our first contract with Airbus marks a milestone not only for Shohin Airlines, but also for the entire civil aviation sector of Tajikistan. The A320neo Family aircraft will form the backbone of our airline’s modern, efficient, and environmentally sustainable fleet. We are committed to providing our passengers with the highest standards of safety, comfort, and service quality while expanding Tajikistan’s international air connectivity. We are confident that our partnership with Airbus will provide a solid foundation for Shohin Airlines’ long-term growth and the successful implementation of our strategy to build a world-class airline,” said Zafar Ahmadzoda, Chief Executive Officer of Shohin Airlines.

“Welcoming a new customer to the Airbus family is always a proud moment, and we are honoured Shohin Airlines has chosen Airbus to power their historic launch.” said Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business. “We look forward to supporting Shohin Airlines’ vision to connect Tajikistan to the world. This agreement marks the beginning of a strong partnership, ensuring the airline sets a new regional standard for fleet optimisation, operational excellence, and passenger experience right from its start.”

The A320 Family is the world’s most popular single-aisle aircraft, having won more than 20,000 orders globally. The Family includes the largest member, the A321neo, offering unparalleled range and performance. The Family offers at least 20% fuel savings and CO₂ reduction compared to previous generation single-aisle aircraft, while maximising passenger comfort with one of the widest single-aisle cabins in the sky.

Airbus Updates No.3711

 Aviation Capital Group Buys 20 Airbus A220s & 40 Airbus A320s

Airbus has notched one more order in the last hours of 2021. Lessor Aviation Capital Group has signed a deal for 40 A320neo family aircraft and 20 A220s, growing its fleet in the coming years. The order includes five A321XLRs, the plane set to reshape the long-haul market. Here’s a look at what could be the last order of the year.

ACG operates a diverse portfolio of Airbus aircraft, including the A320 and A330 families. Photo: Airbus

Last minute

Airbus announced a new order on 30th December, just before the books for the year close. This one came from Aviation Capital Group (ACG), a lessor owned by the Tokyo Century Corporation. The latest order will see ACG increase its Airbus commitments from 39 to nearly 100.

The order consists of two aircraft families. ACG has placed a firm order for 40 A320neo jets, of which five will be A321XLRs. The remaining 35 will be a mix of the standard A320 and A321neo jets, which the group already owns. ACG has also signed an MoU for 20 A220s, expanding its fleet size for the versatile regional jet.

Prior to the deal, ACG listed 39 firm commitments with Airbus and 17 with Boeing. The latest order means the European giant’s backlog is set to grow to 99, leaving the US-based firm far behind.

Riding the wave

For Airbus, the final hour deal wraps up an already strong year. The European aerospace firm has signed a series of deals since November. In a statement, CCO Christian Scherer said,

“The order is another gratifying endorsement of our single aisle products by one of the world’s premier aircraft asset managers, ACG and the Tokyo Century Group. It also forcefully confirms the A220 as a growingly desirable aircraft and investment in the commercial aviation landscape. We congratulate and thank ACG for its decision to select both the A220 and A320neo Families.”

ACG owns over 400 aircraft, 96% of which are narrowbodies, and have an average age of only 5.6 years. Photo: Airbus

The ACG deal comes two days after another major lessor deal. Air Lease Corporation added 116 planes to its order book, including 25 A220s, 79 A321neos (incl. 20 XLRs), and 12 widebodies. It’s been a good week for Airbus, to say the least.

Growing orders

After two years of uncertainty, aircraft manufacturers have bounced back in 2021. Airbus has certainly led the charge, with well over 500 deliveries in the first 11 months of the year and a series of important orders.

This includes the newly-launched A350F, which has attracted orders from carriers like Air France, Singapore Airlines, and lessors such as ALC and CMA CGM. The new aircraft type will help Airbus break into the freighter market and challenge Boeing’s long-standing supremacy thanks to the 747 and 777F programs.

The A350F is Airbus’ response to the 777F and future cargo competitors from the dominant Boeing. Photo: Airbus

While the sun is setting on 2021 (depending on where you are in the world), 2022 is looking like a strong year for aviation, with more orders and deliveries hopefully on the way!

Airbus Updates No.2652

Ryanair Cancels Airbus A320 Orders for its Austrian Subsidiary Lauda

May 13, 2020   

Dublin, Ireland - Irish budget specialist Ryanair plans to rely on its all-Boeing fleet during the post-outbreak recovery phase. To this end, the airline decided to cancel Airbus A320 leasing agreements with lessors for its Austrian subsidiary Lauda.

It's also likely that 30 previous generation Airbus A320 jets at Lauda's fleet would be replaced with Boeing 737s of Ryanair.

Ryanair’s purchase in 2018 of Airbus operator Lauda was pitched as a way to diversify the fleet of the budget airline group, which had until then exclusively flown Boeing jets and currently has over 450 737s. O’Leary, whose expansion plans have been curtailed by the grounding of Boeing’s 737 MAX, said in March last year he was in early talks with Airbus about an order for 100 A321s and that Ryanair wanted to have a dual Boeing-Airbus fleet.

But on Tuesday, O’Leary said he currently viewed talking with Airbus as a waste of his time.

“We would not initiate talks with Airbus until such time as Airbus wants to initiate talks with us,” 

he said in an interview.

“Until they need an order from the Ryanair Group, frankly we are wasting our time talking to Airbus,” 

he added, without elaborating.

Instead, Ryanair planned to “significantly reduce the scale of the Lauda fleet,” said O’Leary, who is known for his brinkmanship in negotiations.

“We have (Airbus) aircraft that are due to be delivered over the next 12 months and we will cancel almost all of those deliveries,” which are from leasing companies," 

he said.

Assuming talks with Boeing about compensation for delays in the delivery of 210 737 MAX jets - and on a possible new aircraft order - go to plan, then Ryanair will probably replace Lauda’s 30 Airbus jets with Boeing, he added.

“As long as we can reach an acceptable outcome with Boeing, the Boeing orders we have in place would readily replace - I think Lauda will have a fleet of about 30 Airbus aircraft - we would probably replace those Airbus with Boeing over the next couple of years.”

In February, Ryanair said it was planning to increase Lauda’s fleet from 23 to 38 Airbus A320s by the summer of 2020. Ryanair is also in talks with unions at Lauda about pay cuts and a new labor agreement.

O’Leary said the Austrian union was refusing to engage and if this did not change by the end of May, Lauda’s home base in Vienna would close, with Ryanair Boeing jets replacing the Lauda Airbus planes.

O’Leary said the talks with Boeing on compensation and a possible new order had accelerated, but would likely not be concluded by a deadline of May 18-19 and may not conclude until the MAX returns to service, which he said was likely to happen in August or September. O’Leary said the MAX grounding could delay Ryanair’s plan to fly 200 million passengers by 2020 “by a year or two.”

Airbus Updates No.2123

French authorities investigate Airbus over Egyptian orders

© Tis Meyer (PlanePics.org)

02.04.2019 - 08:19 UTC

Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) has been confronted with fresh allegations of corruption after German news magazine Spiegel and French disclosure platform Mediapart published internal documents suggesting the European aircraft manufacturer had bribed its way to contracts in Egypt in 2003 and 2006.

The first instance focuses on an April 2003 order with EgyptAir (MS, Cairo Int'l) for seven A330-200s while the other focuses on a 2006 deal involving the sale of four A320-200s to another EgyptAir-affiliated carrier, Air Cairo (SM, Cairo Int'l).

According to the report, Airbus allegedly recruited Lebanese firm Samit International to "arrange meetings between the company's representatives and high-level government representatives" from Egypt, to organize negotiations for the sale of the seven A330 aircraft, and assist Airbus with the sale of A320s. Samit's compensation was pegged at 1.5% of all proceeds.

In 2006, Airbus again recruited Samit for another contract with the Egyptians. This time, the mandate encompassed the sale of various models, including four A320-200s to Air Cairo. Airbus mandated Samit, the documents said, to "maintain all conditions for a political environment favourable to the Company's Products."

According to the documents, between 2003 and 2008, Samit submitted invoices to Airbus for over EUR10 million euros, which Airbus was supposed to transfer to one of Samit's accounts in Lebanon. Deposits started in 2005 with a total of 13 having been made. The funds were then forwarded onto other third-parties six of which received substantial tranches of cash.

Prosecutors in France have been in possession of the documents since summer 2017 and have already begun their investigations.

Neither the investigators nor Airbus chose to comment on the allegations.

Airbus is currently being investigated in several countries for deals conducted under suspicious circumstances. In 2018, it agreed to pay USD99 million to settle a German investigation into alleged corruption surrounding the purchase by Austria of 18, then later reduced to 15, Eurofighters.

Airbus Updates No.1779

IndiGo to lease two A320ceo from ALC

IndiGo Airlines Airbus A320-200© Airbus

02MAR2018

IndiGo Airlines (6E, Delhi Int'l) has signed lease agreements with Air Lease Corporation for two A320-200s. The aircraft will be powered by IAE V2527 motors and will deliver during the third quarter of the year.

The Indian low-cost carrier currently operates 126 A320ceo, thirty-two A320neo, and four ATR72-600s. The two new aircraft aircraft will be the first the carrier is leasing from Air Lease Corporation.

Airbus Updates No.1528

Synergy orders 62 A320neo Family aircraft

Latin America region surpasses 1,000 aircraft sold, A320 continues to prevail

13 JULY 2016 PRESS RELEASE

Synergy Aerospace Corporation, largest shareholder of Colombia-based Avianca and owner of Avianca Brasil, has finalized a Purchase Agreement with Airbus for 62 A320neo Family aircraft. These A320neo will be the base of the fleet renewal and network growth strategy for Avianca Brasil, and also marks over 1,000 Airbus aircraft sold in Latin America. 

“These A320neo will allow Avianca Brasil to take an important leap toward growing and modernizing its fleet in a profitable and sustainable manner, while improving passenger experience,” said Alex Bialer, Chairman of the Board, Synergy Group. “Thanks to its excellent eco-efficiency, reliability and comfort the A320neo Family will allow us to strengthen our position in South America by offering passengers the best single-aisle product available.” 

“Airbus is pleased to be surpassing 1,000 aircraft sold in Latin America with this order by Synergy, and we are proud that Avianca Brasil will rely on the unmatched productivity and fuel efficiency of the A320neo Family to renew its fleet and expand its network in South America,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “Domestic traffic in Brazil is projected to nearly triple by 2034, placing it among the world’s top 10 fastest-growing traffic flows in the world. These A320neo will allow Avianca Brasil to capitalize on this growth and deliver enhanced performance capabilities in challenging airports such as Rio de Janeiro’s Santos Dumont.” 

Synergy became an Airbus customer in 2007 with its order for 10 A350 XWBs. It also has ordered 20 A320 Family aircraft, six A330-200 passenger and one A330-200 Freighter. Today, Avianca Brasil operates 40 A320 Family aircraft and one A330 Freighter. 

Growing at a favorable rate of 5.3 percent annually, intra-regional and domestic traffic in Latin America is expected to almost triple in the next 20 years. The single-aisle aircraft is Latin America’s linchpin, and the A320neo will play a key role in securing this future market. 

With over 1,000 aircraft sold and a backlog of more than 450, over 600 Airbus aircraft are in operation throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. In the past 10 years Airbus has tripled its in-service fleet, securing over 60 percent of orders in the region since 1990. The A320neo has become the undisputed aircraft family of choice for Latin America, now with 410 firm orders, plus 58 commitments with lessors, from seven customers winning nearly 70 percent of orders in the new generation single-aisle aircraft market.   

The A320neo Family is the world’s best-selling single aisle product line with over 4,500 orders received from 83 customers since its launch in 2010 capturing almost 60 percent share of the market. The A320neo Family incorporates latest technologies including new generation engines and Sharklet wing tip devices, which together deliver more than 15 percent in fuel savings per seat from day one and 20 percent by 2020 with further cabin innovations. Thanks to their widest cabin, all members of the A320neo Family offer unmatched comfort in all classes and Airbus’ 18” wide seats in economy as standard. With one aircraft in three sizes (A319neo, A320neo & A321neo), the A320neo Family, seating from 100 to 240 passengers, seamlessly covers the entire single-aisle segment from low to high-density domestic to longer range routes.

Airbus Updates No.1514

AWAS orders 15 A320 Family aircraft

Confirms continuing healthy appetite for best-selling A320 Family

23 JUNE 2016 PRESS RELEASE

AWAS, the Dublin-based leading global aircraft leasing company has announced an order for an additional 15 A320 Family aircraft, comprising 12 A320ceo and three A321ceo aircraft.

Dave Siegel, AWAS CEO remarked on the deal, “AWAS is pleased to continue our long-term relationship with Airbus in reaching this deal for the order of 15 A320 CEO Family aircraft which will include a mix of both A321 and A320 aircraft.  AWAS is bullish on the A320 and A321 CEO family as its value proposition to airlines remains strong which is evident in the continued global demand for Airbus single aisle aircraft.  AWAS is pleased to be able to offer our customers new production CEOs in support of their fleet plans.”

“We are pleased to see leading lessor AWAS come back for more of our best-selling A320 Family aircraft,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “This is a clear signal of the continuing strong demand for our modern, fuel-efficient A320 Family which day in, day out, delivers profitability to its owners and a great travel experience to the passengers.”

Including this latest purchase agreement, AWAS’ cumulative orders to date for A320 Family aircraft have reached a total of 95, comprising 89 A320 and six A321 aircraft.

The A320 Family is the world’s best-selling single aisle product line with over 12,500 orders since launch and more than 7,000 aircraft delivered to some 400 customer and operators worldwide. Thanks to their widest cabin, all members of the A320 Family offer unmatched comfort in all classes and Airbus’ 18” wide seats in economy as standard. With one aircraft in four sizes (A318, A319, A320 & A321), the A320 Family, seating from 100 to 240 passengers, seamlessly covers the entire single-aisle segment from low to high-density domestic to longer range routes.

Airbus Updates No.1495

Air Côte D’Ivoire orders two A320neos and two A320s

First order of the A320neo in Africa

28 APRIL 2016 PRESS RELEASE

Air Côte D’Ivoire, the national airline of Ivory Coast based in Abidjan, has signed a firm order for two A320neo and two A320 aircraft. The agreement makes Air Côte D’Ivoire the first African airline to order the A320neo. The airline’s first purchase agreement directly with Airbus also makes Air Côte D’Ivoire a new customer. 

Air Côte D’Ivoire selected the A320 Family for its wider cabin, low operating costs and excellent fuel efficiency. The airline has selected CFM engines for their A320 fleet. Air Côte D’Ivoire currently operates five Airbus aircraft on lease; 4 A319s and 1 A320. 

The aircraft will feature a 2-class cabin layout. The new aircraft will fit seamlessly into the airline’s current fleet, thanks to Airbus’ fleet commonality, and best-in-class passenger comfort of any single aisle aircraft. 

“With these new aircraft Air Côte d’Ivoire will position itself as a flagship airline in the region by offering its passengers the best on-board services. Air Côte d’Ivoire will also improve its punctuality and reliability thanks to these latest-generation Airbus aircraft,” said General Abdoulaye Coulibaly, Chairman of the Board. 

“We are very pleased to welcome Air Côte D’Ivoire as our first customer for the A320neo in Africa. Our A320neo and A320 will offer Air Côte D’Ivoire the lowest operational costs and the highest seat comfort and widest cabins for its passengers. This order will play a key role in the development of Air Côte D’Ivoire with new routes to West and Central Africa,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. 

This new order will strengthen the airline’s network that reaches today 23 international routes throughout West and Central Africa and 5 domestic destinations in Ivory Coast.

Airbus Updates No.1414

China Aviation Supplies Holding Company orders 30 A330 Family and 100 A320 Family aircraft

A great endorsement for the world’s leading versatile wide-body A330 and the best-selling single aisle A320 Family aircraft

29 OCTOBER 2015 PRESS RELEASE

China Aviation Supplies Holding Company (CAS) has signed a General Terms Agreement (GTA) with Airbus for the acquisition of 30 A330 Family aircraft and 100 A320 Family aircraft. The 30 A330s are the firm up of the commitment signed in June 2015. The GTA was signed in Beijing by Li Hai, President and CEO of CAS, and Fabrice Brégier, President and CEO of Airbus, in the presence of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

“We are grateful to CAS, one of our longest standing customers, for its continued confidence in Airbus and in the versatile A330 Family as well as the best-selling A320 Family,” said Fabrice Bregier, President and CEO of Airbus. “With these 30 A330 options now firmed up, CAS’ total number of orders for the popular Airbus widebody is this year 75 aircraft. This strong demand in China for the A330 has been the key driver behind our decision to set up an A330 Completion and Delivery Centre in Tianjin, China next to the A320 Family final assembly line and delivery centre in Tianjin, which has assembled and delivered more than 240 Airbus single aisle aircraft. This will enable us to be even closer to our customers and to take our long-standing mutual beneficial partnership with China to a new height.”  

The first agreements on setting up an A330 C&DC in Tianjin, China were signed by Airbus and Chinese partners in March 2014 and witnessed by French President Francois Hollande and visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping. This was followed in October 2014, when Airbus, the Tianjin Free Trade Zone (TJFTZ) and the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) in Berlin, Germany, in the presence of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, A framework agreement was signed in July 2015 in Toulouse.

According to the Airbus global market forecast, China is leading the world in passenger growth. China’s domestic air traffic will become the world’s largest within the next 10 years, and traffic volumes will quadruple in the next 20 years. In the next 20 years, Airbus forecasts a demand in China for some 5,400 new passenger and freighter aircraft including 1,700 widebody aircraft like the A330, A350 and A380.               

At present, the in-service Airbus fleet with Chinese operators comprises over 1,200 aircraft (over 1,000 A320 Family aircraft, over 160 A330 Family aircraft and five A380s as well as Airbus freighters and corporate jets).

The A330 is one of the most popular widebody aircraft ever and has to date won over 1,500 orders, with over 1,200 flying with more than 100 operators worldwide. Airbus is investing hundreds of millions of Euros per year in the A330 Family to maintain the aircraft at the leading edge of innovations. The A330 Family is part of the world’s most modern and comprehensive widebody product line, which also includes the larger A350 XWB and double deck A380

The A330 family seats between 250 and 440 passengers and is one of the most efficient aircraft in the world, with the lowest operating costs in its category. Thanks to the continuous introduction of a large number of innovations, the A330 remains the most profitable and best performing aircraft in its class, boasting an average operational reliability of 99.4 percent. Worldwide an A330 Family aircraft takes off or lands every 20 seconds.

The A320 Family, seat from 100 to 240 passengers, seamlessly covering the entire single-aisle segment from low to high-density configurations on domestic to longer-range routes. To date, Airbus has sold more than 12,200 A320 Family aircraft and delivered over 6,700 CEO to more than 300 operators worldwide.

Airbus is the world’s leading aircraft manufacturer of passenger airliners, ranging in capacity from 100 to more than 500 seats. Airbus has design and manufacturing facilities in France, Germany, the UK, and Spain, and subsidiaries in the US, China, India, Japan and in the Middle East. In addition, it provides the highest standard of customer support and training through an expanding international network.

Notes to editors About China Aviation Supplies Holding Company (CAS)

China Aviation Supplies Holding Company (CAS) is a state-owned enterprise managed by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council. Its predecessor, China Aviation Supplies Company (CASC) was founded in October 1980 upon the approval of the State Import and Export Regulatory Commission and was the first company established in civil aviation industry. In October 2002, the transportation companies and supporting companies in the civil aviation industry underwent a merging and restructuring. As a result, China Aviation Supplies Import & Export Group Corporation (CASGC), as one of the six aviation transportation and supporting group companies, was officially established with the approval of State Council. In December 2007, its name was changed to China Aviation Supplies Holding Company (CAS).

As the largest comprehensive aviation suppliers service and support provider in China, CAS acts as a neutral third party, and is a well-known brand which enjoys good image in the international aviation market. CAS keeps close partnership with Chinese airlines and foreign aircraft manufacturers, with distribution network covering the whole country and has endeavoured to optimize aviation resource allocation and build an aviation supplies sharing platform for the whole industry.

Airbus Updates No.1386

Allegiant Travel Company adds another Airbus A320 to its fleet

The order is Allegiant’s 50th commitment for Airbus aircraft

19 AUGUST 2015 PRESS RELEASE

Allegiant Travel Company, based in Las Vegas, Nevada, is continuing to grow its Airbus fleet with a firm order for one A320 aircraft. This marks the airline’s 50th commitment to an Airbus A320 Family member, and the first time they have purchased an aircraft directly from Airbus. Airbus’ Asset Management team structured the deal, which is a strong example of how Airbus aircraft find a second life with many customers worldwide. Allegiant currently owns a fleet of 34 Airbus A320 Family aircraft, with 17 in their own service (7 A319s and 10 A320s), and the balance either pending service or leased out to other operators. The newly ordered A320 will be powered by CFM56 engines from CFM International.

“By the end of 2016, Allegiant will be a majority Airbus carrier as measured by available seat miles,” said Jude Bricker, Allegiant Travel Company senior vice president of planning. “This is an exciting milestone for Allegiant having taken delivery of our first Airbus aircraft just in 2013.”

“What happens in Vegas is what is happening around the world,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer – Customers. “Allegiant is among the growing ranks of low-cost carriers that appreciate the A320 Family as the perfect balance of comfort, economy and efficiency. Allegiant just marked its 50th consecutive profitable quarter and our aircraft in their fleet helped achieve that accomplishment.”

The A320 Family is the world’s best-selling single aisle product line with over 11,800 orders to date and more than 6,600 aircraft delivered to 400 customers and operators worldwide. Thanks to its widest cabin, all members of the A320 Family offer the industry’s best level of comfort in all classes and Airbus’ 18” wide seats in economy as standard, underpinning its market leading position.