Airbus set to win US$5b order from VivaAerobus

[DALLAS] Airbus SAS is poised to win a US$5 billion order as Aeroenlaces Nacionales SA, the Mexican airline known as VivaAerobus, expands and upgrades its fleet of ageing Boeing Co 737s, people familiar with the plan said.

The deal is for 40 narrow-body A320neos with new engines and 12 of the current A320 models, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private. VivaAerobus, Mexico's fourth-biggest carrier, may announce the transaction as soon as next week, the people said.

Displacing Boeing planes would be a boost for Toulouse, France-based Airbus, and the airline would see fuel efficiency rise with the A320-family aircraft over older 737s. While Grupo Aeromexico SAB, Mexico's largest airline, opted to buy Boeing models in 2012, closely held VivaAerobus is joining Interjet and Volaris in adding jets from Airbus.