GoAir set to take delivery of its first fuel-efficient Airbus A320 neo plane

Private budget carrier GoAir is all set to take the delivery of its first fuel-efficient Airbus A320 neo plane this week. “Our first A320 neo (new engine option) will be landing at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here on June 2,” a GoAir official said. “The aircraft should be in operations by early next week,” the official added. The Mumbai-based carrier was originally scheduled to induct these aircraft in the fleet from April this year.

As of now, another budget airline IndiGo is the only operator of A 320 neo in India. The induction of the new aircraft will increase GoAir’s fleet size to 20 and make it eligible to fly it international.

As of now, it has 19 Airbus A320 planes in the fleet. The existing regulation requires an Indian carrier to have a minimum five years of domestic flying experience and a fleet of at least 20 planes to fly overseas.

Airbus claims that this new type of aircraft burns 10-15 per cent less fuel than the existing versions. The Wadia Group-promoted no-frills carrier had, in June 2011, placed order for 72 new A320 neo aircraft, valued at about Rs. 32,400 crore on list price, with the European aviation major Airbus.

“GoAir plans to induct a total of eight A320 neo planes this fiscal of the 72 planes on order,” the official said, adding the first A320 neo is expected to be deployed on the Mumbai-route.