Airbus has received an order for 60 A320neo family aircraft from leasing firm SMBC Aviation Capital, the aircraft manufacturer announced on November 21, 2023. 

The exact composition of the order, namely the split between A320neo and A321neo aircraft, is not yet known. However, the deal brings the total of the aircraft type in SMB Aviation Capital’s books to 340.  

SMBC is part of the Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, a Japanese financial group that is part of a diversified business conglomerate (“keiretsu” as these corporate structures are known in Japan) of the same name. 

Both Peter Barrett, CEO of SMBC Aviation Capital and Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer at Airbus, praised the fuel efficiency credentials of the A320neo family of aircraft.  

In this regard, and in the wake of growing environmental scrutiny of the aviation industry, the European manufacturer is keen to highlight the relatively lower fuel consumption of the latest generation of its aircraft and their lower relative carbon footprint per passenger and mile flown.