A320neo takes off

New engine variant completes successful first flight

The A320neo, the re-engine variant of the most popular aircraft family, successfully conducted its first flight in Toulouse last month, three years and eight months after the New Engine Option was launched to bring airlines a 15 percent improvement in fuel burn as compared to the current engine.

The A320neo, which flew for 2.5 hours, was equipped with Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-JM engines. It will later have an alternative power plant thanks to CFM International and its LEAP-1A. This new generation of engines feature fan diameters of up to 81 inches driving double digit fuel burn improvement and confirming the market demand for bigger sized engines.

The flight test campaign will count on a total of eight A320 Family aircraft and 16 engines as part of the aircraft’s certification aimed at reaching an entry into service by the end of 2015.

Ongoing innovations will help increase the A320neo fuel burn reduction to 20 percent by year 2020, thanks to further engine improvements and cabin innovations that will allow for the following aircraft configuration:

- 160 seats for the A319;
- 189 seats for the A320;
- And 240 seats for the A321.

These improvements complement the superior comfort achieved by the A320 Family’s 18-inch seat width, seven inches wider than its direct competition. The new A320neo will also benefit from lower maintenance cost thanks to its larger engine fans, engine dual sourcing, all its systems managed electronically like the fly-by-wire innovation and a higher share of composite materials.

The A320neo first flight clearly symbolizes Airbus’ continuous innovation, which has resulted in almost 11,000 A320 Family aircraft sold. And of the 3,272 A320neo sold worldwide, accounting for 60 percent market share, nearly 200 of them are destined for Latin America by way of Avianca, LATAM, Interjet, Volaris and VivaAerobus.

The historic success of the A320 Family clearly explains why on average, Airbus has added 13 A320 Family operators per year over the last 20 years.

For more information contact:
Bernard de l’Estoile
Airline Marketing Manager, Latin America & the Caribbean
bernard.delestoile@airbus.com