Airbus Secures Massive 100-Jet A320neo Family Order From Major Lessor

Published Jul 20, 2026, 11:07 AM EDT A graduate in German, Jake has a passion for history and regional aviation, and enjoys sampling new carriers and aircraft. He has visited OEM facilities as far and wide as Bristol, Toulouse, and Seattle, and recently enjoyed the milestone of flying his 150th sector as a passenger. Based in Norfolk, UK. * Last updated 11:35 AM EST by Jake Hardiman * Irish aircraft leasing giant SMBC Aviation Capital has made waves at the Farnborough International Airshow 2026 with an order for 100 jets from the Airbus A320neo series to close out the first day of the event: 35 A320neos and 65 A321neos. The news follows SMBC's earlier announcement, which saw the Dublin-based lessor commit to 100 narrowbody 737 MAX twinjets from Airbus's US rival, Boeing. The first day of the show as a whole has seen Airbus and Boeing trade blows, with each announcing major orders to kick off the event. This industry-dominating aircraft manufacturing duopoly is often a divisive subject among airlines, with some preferring to come down on one side of the fence or the other. SMBC, however, sees the value in a more diverse fleet that reflects the needs of its customers. SMBC Has Ordered 200 Narrowbody Twinjets On Day One Alone Monday, July 20, 11:35 AM EST Credit: Boeing As noted above, this afternoon's announcement was actually the second of two major orders announced by SMBC Aviation Capital on the first day of the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow. Indeed, the firm has already committed to 100 Boeing 737 MAX jets as it looks to further modernize its diverse portfolio of commercial aircraft. The 60 MAX 10s that it ordered represented its first time buying that model. Furthermore, SMBC's purchase also represents the largest single order for the stretched Boeing 737 MAX 10. While the standard Boeing 737 MAX 8 model, of which SMBC Aviation Capital ordered 40 more units today, remains a popular choice, recent transactions have leaned more heavily on the larger MAX 10 as its certification looms. As SMBC highlighted, its better per-seat economics are a key factor. The Lessor's Young Fleet Continues To Grow Monday, July 20, 11:30 AM EST Credit: Simple Flying A quick look at SMBC Aviation Capital's fleet page shows just why the Airbus A320neo series is such a good fit for the Irish aircraft leasing giant. According to the firm, its portfolio of aircraft is very young, with a weighted average age of just 5.4 years old. The 100 new Airbus A320neo and A321neo jets will only bring this figure down, and furthermore, modern narrowbodies are where SMBC specializes. Indeed, of the firm's 1,686-strong portfolio of owned, serviced, and committed aircraft, 80% are classified as those with new technology, and 90% are narrowbodies, with the Airbus A320neo series fitting both of these categories perfectly. As far as the A321neo is concerned, the type is actually SMBC's most numerous, with an existing portfolio of 418 of these jets: 82 owned, 167 serviced, and 169 committed. The standard Airbus A320neo isn't far behind, and ranks third overall with a combined portfolio of 309 jets: 167 owned, 57 serviced, and 85 committed. However, the preference for the A321neo is conspicuous, as it reflects industry trends of both a preference for higher capacity and the desire to operate long-haul flights with narrowbody twinjets. This is possible using the Airbus A321LR and A321XLR sub-variants. 100 More Narrowbodies For SMBC Monday, July 20, 11:20 AM EST Credit: Simple Flying The nature of SMBC's latest order, whereby firm commitments to the larger Airbus A321neo variant are nearly twice as numerous as the standard A320neo model, underlines the growing preference for bigger aircraft among the airlines to which it leases jets. This deal sees the lessor build on a strong working relationship with Airbus that dates back a quarter of a century, and is reflected in its portfolio. Simple Flying Quiz Think you really know Airbus? Answer 10 questions and put your knowledge to the test Simple Flying Quiz Think you really know Airbus? Answer 10 questions and put your knowledge to the test Peter Barrett, who serves as the Chief Executive Officer of SMBC Aviation Capital, explained that "this significant new order will give our airline customers access to a continuous delivery pipeline of the latest technology A320neo family aircraft into the mid-2030s." He added that it reflects confidence in long-term demand for A320neo series jets. Benoît de Saint-Exupéry from Airbus also celebrated the deal: "SMBC Aviation Capital’s investment reflects the global market appetite for the A320neo Family for the years to come as customers select the latest generation and most efficient aircraft to grow and renew fleets."