Pegasus Airlines, the second largest airline in Turkey, has signed a firm £4.5bn order with Airbus for 75 commercial jetliners.
Turkey is a growing market for the aircraft manufacturer, which manufacturers the wings at Broughton in north Wales. The deal is the biggest single commercial aircraft order ever placed by a Turkish airline.
The contract could grow to 100 jetliners from the A320neo aircraft family, neo standing for new engine order, which is a more fuel efficient engine variant.
“We are placing the biggest order in the history of Turkish civil aviation with Airbus for up to 100 A320neo Family aircraft,” said Ali Sabanci, chairman of Pegasus. “The A320neo with its 15% fuel burn reduction and superior cabin comfort made it without a doubt the best choice for achieving our development plans.”
The reduction in fuel burn is equivalent to 1.4 million litres of fuel, saving 3,600 tonnes of C02 a year on each aircraft.
The 180 and 220 seater aircraft will be deployed on Pegasus’ rapidly expanding network from Istanbul to destinations in Turkey, Europe and the Middle East.
