Airbus gets $11.8bn order from Dublin-based SMBC

Dublin-based aircraft leasing company SMBC Aviation Capital said it had placed an order worth $11.8 billion with Airbus for 115 aircraft.

The firm order is for 110 A320neo and five A320ceo aircraft, SMBC said in a statement on Tuesday.

SMBC, which is the world’s third largest aircraft lessor, said the deal is the largest single-aircraft order ever placed by an Irish-based lessor.

"This is a landmark order for SMBC Aviation Capital and indeed for the wider aircraft leasing industry," said the company's chief executive Peter Barrett.

Formerly part of the Royal Bank Scotland Group (RBS), SMBC has acquired more than 494 aircraft since its launch in 2012.

Separately, Irish aircraft Avalon lessor announced plans to acquire 15 Airbus 133neo aircraft at a cost of $4.1 billion.

The deal brings the total number of aircraft owned, managed and committed by Avalon to 222.