New Delhi, June 16

Wadia group-owned GoAir today announced placing an order for 72 Airbus A-320 aircraft valued at about Rs 32,400 crore on list price, the second largest such order in six months. With this order for 72 A-320 NEO (New Engine Option) planes worth USD 7.2 billion, GoAir has a total order book of 92 aircraft worth Rs 43,200 crore (USD 9.6 billion). In January, the country's biggest no-frill carrier IndiGo had ordered a record 180 aircraft worth Rs 67,800 crore (USD 15 billion) to meet its expansion plans till 2025. GoAir, which currently operates 10 planes with an average age of two years, had earlier placed an order for 20 A-320s. "As part of our Vision 2020, we have placed an order for additional 72 A-320 NEO aircraft with Airbus. These aircraft will give us a further competitive advantage of up to 15 per cent on efficiency, primarily gained from a much improved fuel burn," Jeh Wadia, GoAir Managing Director said in a statement about the strategic initiative. The company would take delivery of its additional aircraft from its previous order over the next 24 months.  Wadia terming the placement of order of an additional 72 aircraft as game-changer for GoAir and the Indian aviation sector. "GoAir has no plans currently to fly international routes. I feel there is too much competition, especially from low-fare carriers and I anticipate a bloodbath there. I wish good luck to some of our competitors who are set to fly international routes," Wadia said. Asked about plans to rope in a private equity player or a strategic investor, he said there were no such plans at present. "We have no plan to sell a part of our stake. We also have no plans for an initial public offering. On a profit after tax basis, we are profitable and we have a positive EBITDA growth." On GoAir's performance, Wadia said it has achieved an an operating margin of 15.7 per cent as well as an EBITDA growth of 13.7 per cent. Its load factor stands at 82.5 per cent, while the industry average is 78 per cent. The airline's on-time performance is 90 per cent, while the industry average is 88 per cent. Its cancellations stood at 0.3 per cent, against the industry average of 2.1 per cent, he stated. GoAir currently operates 10 aircraft with an average age of two years which makes it the youngest fleet in India, he claimed, adding the company will take delivery of ten more passengers planes over the next 24 months. Elaborating on the airline's order for the 72 A320 NEO aircraft, Wadia said "we are very committed to reducing greenhouse gases emission...in line with this commitment, this order with Airbus will                 ensure that we continuously reduce greenhouse gases               emission." —PTI