AIRCRAFT manufacturer Airbus is in the process of agreeing a lucrative deal with a US-based airline to supply up to 100 planes.

The company, which has a base in Broughton, and Spirit Airlines are said to have agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding.

Spirit announced its intention to place firm orders for a mix of A319neo, A320neo, and A321neo to meet its future fleet requirements.

The airline’s President and CEO Ted Christie said: “This new order represents another milestone for Spirit.

“The additional aircraft will be used to support Spirit’s growth as we add new destinations and expand our network across the US, Latin America, and the Caribbean. We look forward to working with our valued partners at Airbus to finalise our agreement.”

Airbus Chief Commercial Officer Christian Scherer added: “The Airbus A320 Family has been a strong platform for the remarkable success of Spirit over the past several years.

“The ongoing, enthusiastic spirit the airline demonstrates in our A320neo Family is most rewarding, and we look forward to playing a part in the Spirit team’s continued growth for many, many years to come.”

Spirit is a fast growing ultra-low-cost carrier in the Americas, based in South Florida.

Featuring the widest single-aisle cabin in the sky, the best-selling A320neo Family, comprising the A319neo, A320neo, and A321neo, deliver at least 20 per cent reduced fuel burn as well as 50 per cent less noise compared to previous generation aircraft, thanks to incorporating the very latest technologies including new generation engines and Sharklets.

At the end of September 2019, the A320neo Family had received more than 6,650 firm orders from nearly 110 customers worldwide.