Page 25 - AAA MAY - JUNE 2016 Online Magazine

FEATURE NEO

Most importantly however, is the news that the NEOs are
delivering an average fuel efficiency savings of 13 per cent when

compared to the A320 Classics without Sharklets.

IndiGo A320neo, when the aircraft made it commenced revenue operations with the bring the fuel burn down? What can we do
an appearance at the India Aviation Show A320neo from 18 March and as of 24 April, that can in a very unique structural manner
in Hyderabad in March. IndiGo has chosen the three A320 Neos achieved a technical bring down our overall cost structure? We
to configure the NEOs in a 180 seat layout dispatch reliability of 99.02 percent as are very-very happy with that and as long as
which is the same as the A320 Classics that compared to 99.94 percent for the A320 this plane works and as long as this plane
it operates and the aircraft utilization rates Classics for the same operational period. delivers the lower fuel burn, we have scored
being targeted for are 13-hours per day. The airline has said that it expects the NEOs the goal,” says Ghosh.
Also being looked at the by the airline is the to demonstrate better operating reliability Out of the total of 430 A320Neo
possibility for a stretch all the way up to 186 than the A320 Classics and that it continues aircraft on order by IndiGo, Pratt & Whitney
seats and IndiGo is working with Airbus on to work with Pratty & Whitney and Airbus to PurePower PW1100G-JM engines have been
this configuration. make that happen. chosen for the first 150 aircraft and the LCC
The LCC was originally slated to take Most importantly however, is the news still needs to order engines for the remaining
delivery of its first A320neo in December that the NEOs are delivering an average 280. IndiGo has not ruled out selection of
last year, however, highly publicised delays fuel efficiency savings of 13 per cent when CFM International’s LEAP-1A, which is the
related to the jetliners Pratt & Whitney compared to the A320 Classics without other engine that is scheduled to be on the
PurePower PW1100G-JM, resulted in a delay Sharklets. These savings are being achieved A320Neos. The LEAP-1A is expected to enter
of a few months before aircrafts entry into as a plain fuel burn advantage for the aircraft into service this year with another airline.
service with the airline. Commenting on the flying for the same distance with the same “We are eagerly looking forward to learning
delays, Aditya Ghosh President and Whole pay loads. “We expect over the next few from experience that other airlines will
Time Director, IndiGo said, “These delivery years as the performance improvement have with the CFM LEAP-X Engine. It will be
delays have been due to certain engine programmes goes-on to this engine for this a good opportunity for us to compare the
issues primarily related to the cooling down fuel burn actually to improve even further. actual operating performance of two engines
and start-up time for the Pratt & Whitney That is really the US$50 billion bet we took a before we decide on the engine choice for the
Geared Turbofan Engine. This engine cool- few years ago, saying fuel is the biggest chunk remaining 280 aircraft that we have on order
down issue slows the engine start process of our cost what can we do to structurally with Airbus,” Ghosh adds.
and impacts our ability to turn aircraft around
quickly which is an essential part of our low
Neo Arrival cost business model. “Pratt & Whitney has
been aggressively working on these issues
and at this time we have a fair amount of
confidence that most of these issues would
Indian LCC IndiGo is the first Asian airline to commence revenue operations with the Airbus A320neo be addressed before the end of this year,”
By Atul Chandra he added. IndiGo’s Q4 & Full Year Fiscal
2016 Financial Results Conference Call also
revealed some interesting information on
the reliability of the new NEOs in service
with the airline. The LCC revealed that since

ABOVE; Indian LCC IndiGo has
announced that the new A320 NEOs
are providing average fuel efficiency
savings of 13 per cent as compared to
its A320 Classics without Sharklets
RIGHT: IndiGo is the first airline in
Asia to commence revenue operations
with the A320neo. The airline has four
NEOs in service and will add 20 more
of the type in fiscal 2017
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