FARNBOROUGH, United Kingdom (AFP) - SMBC Aviation Capital, the Japanese aircraft leasing company, has signed an order for 115 single-aisle A-320 Airbus planes costing US$11.7 billion (S$14.5 billion) at list prices, it said on Tuesday.

"This new order is the industry's largest ever single firm order by a worldwide leasing company for single-aisle aircraft," SMBC said in an announcement made at the Farnborough airshow near London. SMBC will take 110 A-320neo planes and five A-320ceo.

"This is a landmark order for SMBC Aviation Capital and indeed for the wider aircraft leasing industry, and I am delighted to be continuing the close and long-standing relationship that our business enjoys with Airbus," said SMBC chief executive Peter Barrett.

"The A320 family has played a crucial role in SMBC Aviation Capital's success to date, and this order should be taken as a clear sign both of our commitment to the new generation of single-aisle aircraft as well as our ambitious plans to grow our business," he added.