Gregory Polek has spent his entire career in aviation journalism with AIN, starting as a proofreader and assistant to then-managing editor Mary Mahoney in 1995 after serving an internship with&nbsp;New Jersey Monthly&nbsp;magazine and completing his B.A. degree in English/Writing at New Jersey’s William Paterson College. By 1997 Polek accepted a position as an associate editor, covering the regional airline beat for&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;in place of retiring industry veteran Don Anderson. The assignment took Polek across North America and Europe to profile regional airlines varying in size and mission from the likes of floatplane operators Kenmore Air and Chalk’s Ocean Airways to regional jet operators such as SkyWest and American Eagle. Today, in his dual role as Air Transport Editor and International Airshow Editor, Polek writes, edits, and manages AIN’s commercial aviation content while overseeing each of the company’s daily international air show publications in Paris, Farnborough, Singapore, and Dubai. Most recently Polek has assumed oversight of daily coverage of the Helicopter Association International’s annual Heli-Expo convention.

Senior Editor

Gregory Polek

Airbus landed one of its largest-ever aircraft orders from a single operator with the sale of 300 A320neo-family jets to India’s IndiGo, the companies announced Tuesday. The order consists of a mix of A320neos, A321neos, and A321XLRs and takes IndiGo’s total number of airplanes on order&nbsp;for the Airbus narrowbody family to 730.

 


IndiGo accepted delivery of its first A320neo in March 2016&nbsp;and has since expanded its fleet of single-aisle jets to 97, ranking it as the world’s largest. IndiGo also operates 128 A320ceos.

 


“This order is an important milestone, as it reiterates our mission of strengthening air connectivity in India, which will in turn boost economic growth and mobility,” said IndiGo CEO Ronojoy Dutta. “India is expected to continue with its strong aviation growth and we are well on our way to build the world’s best air transportation system, to serve more customers and deliver on our promise of providing low fares and a courteous, hassle-free experience to them.”

 


Based on the most recent list prices published by Airbus, the value of the deal could total $33 billion. IndiGo has not chosen an engine supplier for the airplanes. The airline placed an order at June’s Paris Air Show for CFM Leap-1A turbofans to power 280 Airbus airplanes already on order, signaling a switch from original engine supplier Pratt &amp; Whitney following a spate of durability findings involving the PW1100G. &nbsp;

 


The inclusion of the A321XLR in the order proved noteworthy as well, as Airbus prepares to deliver the first of the longest-range narrowbody it has every produced in 2023. The XLR’s specifications who a range of 4,700 nautical miles, or 700 nm beyond the standard A321LR, allowing for nonstop service between such city pairs as Beirut-Cape Town and Dublin-Recife as well as from points in Japan to deep in Australia and from interior Europe deep into North America and vice versa.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

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News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

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News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

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