The A320neo: Star of 2016

2016 was a landmark year for the newest and most efficient member of the world’s best-selling A320 Family, the A320neo. With its Sharklet wing tip devices, highly-efficient engines and new cabin innovations, the A320neo has been flying the world’s skies for almost one year now. As of August, several of these A320neos have been spotted in the region’s skies adorned in liveries of Latin America’s leading airlines.

In August, LATAM Airlines Brazil was the first airline to receive the A320neo in the Americas, and the fifth in the world. Airbus’ biggest Latin American customer will use its A320neo to deploy international operations in Latin America and expand its domestic route offering both in Brazil and within South America. The international launch route was Sao Paulo Guarulhos-Buenos Aires Aeroparque.

Volaris, Mexico’s largest Airbus customer, received its first A320neo in September, and became the first A320neo operator in North America. Volaris was followed by VivaAerobus later that month, for which the A320neo is key for fleet renewal as the airline converts to an all-Airbus operator by end of 2016.

In October, Avianca Brasil received the first CFM engine-powered A320neo in the Americas as part of its fleet renewal strategy. Later that month, Latin America’s A320neo deliveries came to a strong finish with the first delivery to Azul. The low-cost Brazilian carrier will deploy these aircraft on high-density domestic routes.

The A320neo has become the linchpin aircraft for Latin America’s airlines, all of which have immediately benefitted from the 15% fuel burn reduction per trip* offered by the A320neo. And by 2020, fuel burn savings are expected to reach up to 20 percent.

Another reason behind the A320neo Family’s incredible success is due to the fact that it adapts to the versatile needs of any airline, something that is more and more valuable with the growth in air traffic experienced by Latin America. The A320neo Family concept consists of one aircraft in three sizes, ranging from 140 to 240 seats, allowing airlines from low-cost to legacy carriers the best market coverage.

It’s no surprise that the A320neo will quickly dominate Latin America’s skies, allowing airlines to modernize their fleets while offering the lowest operating costs in its category.

*Compared to previous-generation aircraft.

For more information:

Lindsy Caballero, Communication Specialist, Latin America & Caribbean
lindsy.caballero@airbus.com