What's going on?

Airbus, the European aircraft behemoth, just hit a sky-high record, inking a deal to sell 500 planes to IndiGo.

What does this mean?

The global aviation industry has been on a rollercoaster ride lately. A few years ago, it was all about grounded fleets and massive losses. But fast forward to today, and we�re seeing soaring profits and gung-ho airlines outbidding each other with record orders. The Paris Air Show, taking place this week after a four-year hiatus, is the perfect stage to showcase that newfound pizzazz � and Airbus has gone and stolen the show, bagging the biggest aircraft order in history from IndiGo, India�s largest airline by market share.

Why should I care?

Zooming in: Possible turbulence.
All that gusto has got some industry veterans warning that airlines might be biting off more than they can chew. Just months ago, Air India set a record with an order for 470 aircraft. Add to that the huge purchases by Ryanair and Saudi startup Riyadh Air earlier this year, and we�re looking at announced deals nearing 1,500 airplanes. See, if economic growth slows and travel demand dips after the post-pandemic rush, airlines could find themselves back in the red. And if that proves to be the case, then they could be back to their loss-making ways sooner than Ryanair starts charging passengers to use the toilet.

The bigger picture: High-flying future.�
This deal is more than just a feather in the cap for the aviation industry: it�s a testament to India�s growing global stature. After all, India recently leapfrogged China to become the world�s most populous nation � and unlike China, India�s population is predominantly young and growing. So, with half of its population under 30 and over two-thirds in the working age bracket, it�s no wonder India�s on track to become the world�s fastest-growing major economy in the near future.