Airbus wins large order from veteran low-cost airline investor Franke

Airbus has secured a multibillion-dollar order for 255 single-aisle jets from veteran airline investor Bill Franke, a deal that underlines the plane-maker’s forecast that the industry is poised to rebound strongly from the pandemic. The deal sealed at the Dubai Airshow on Sunday packages together A321neo aircraft for delivery across a stable of ultra-low-cost airlines backed by Franke’s Indigo Partners, including Europe’s Wizz Air and Frontier in the US.  The order is a sign that low-cost, short-haul airlines are rapidly rebounding from the impact of the pandemic, and comes as Franke is positioning his airlines to capitalise on the industry-wide disruption. “This order reaffirms our portfolio airlines’ commitment to consistent growth through the next decade,” he said. The US private equity executive is considered to be one of the most successful aviation investors in history. He has bought stakes in a clutch of low-cost airlines and spurred growth by cutting costs and focusing on expanding markets such as eastern Europe. Wizz Air, which will receive 102 aircraft, has promised to use the pandemic to expand across Europe and beyond. It made an unsuccessful bid for British rival easyJet this year. Rival low-cost carrier Ryanair signalled its own ambitions with an order from Boeing during the depths of the aviation crisis last December, and is expecting delivery of more than 200 aircraft in the coming years. The Wizz order includes 27 A321XLR, longer-range aircraft capable of reaching the Middle East from western Europe, following Wizz’s launch of an Abu Dhabi-based joint venture earlier this year. Frontier will receive 91 new aircraft, while Latin American carriers Volaris and JetSmart will get 39 and 23 planes respectively.<br/>