An order from Sir Freddie Laker for 10 A300s in late 1978 – the first British order for Airbus aircraft – had satisfied one of the conditions of British money for the A310, that there was a British order for Airbus.
A further oil crisis in 1979 had, like the first six years earlier, focused airlines’ attention even more keenly on economy, especially fuel consumption. Demand was growing for a new short- to medium-range 150-seater aircraft which could be used to match capacity to demand more flexibly. Airbus announced its intention to build its first single-aisle, the A320.