The controlling stockholder of Frontier Airlines and three foreign carriers has agreed to buy 430 Airbus passenger jets.
Airbus announced it had finalized agreements with Indigo Partners and its four portfolio airlines for the purchase of additional A320neo aircraft for JetSMART (Chile), Volaris (Mexico) and Wizz Air (Hungary).
The order is made up of 274 A320neos and 156 A321neos worth $49.5 billion at list prices.
Discounts, which are never disclosed, are expected to lower the total price tag. Order can also be modified or canceled, since deliveries take place over many years.
“These customer-friendly and efficient A320neo Family aircraft form a great platform for continued growth for our family of ultra-low-cost airlines,” said Bill Franke, managing partner of Indigo Partners. “The Indigo Partners team looks forward to creating even more value for even more passengers around the world with these modern and efficient aircraft.”
The aircraft ordered today are a mix of A320neos and A321neos and will be delivered to the individual airlines as follows:
- Wizz – 72 A320neo, 74 A321neo
- Frontier – 100 A320neo, 34 A321neo
- JetSMART – 56 A320neo, 14 A321neo
- Volaris – 46 A320neo, 34 A321neo
Indigo Partners’ Franke indicated that engine selections will be made at a later date.
Airbus Battles Boeing’s 737 aircraft for a piece of the market for aircraft typically used on shorter routes.
Indigo uses the ultra-low fare model that charges for luggage and other services, while offering a low base fare.
Prior to Indigo taking control of Frontier, the carrier briefly offered service to New Castle Airport in Delaware. Under Indigo, the company pulled out of Delaware and expanded in Philadelphia, where it offers service to a couple of dozen of destinations. Frontier also offers flights out of Trenton, NJ.
Flights are typically offered a few days a week as the carrier stretches its fleet of 78 aircraft to serve a nearly equal number of destinations.
Indigo Partners LLC is based in Phoenix.
