T
The A320 family has proved
popular with airlines
including low-cost carriers
such as EasyJet, which
purchased A319s and A320s
to replace its 737 fleet.
As of 28 February 2017, American Airlines
was the largest operator of the Airbus A320
family aircraft, operating 384 aircraft.
The aircraft family competes directly with the
737 and has competed with the 717, 757,
and the MD-80/MD-90.
In December 2010, Airbus announced a
new generation of the A320 family, the
A320neo (new engine option).
X-Plane Airbus A320 Flightdeck
The A320neo offers new, more efficient engines, combined with airframe improvements
and the addition of winglets, named Sharklets by Airbus.
The aircraft will deliver fuel savings of up to 15%.
As of February 2017, a total of 5,063 A320neo family aircraft had been ordered by more
than 70 airlines, making it the fastest ever selling commercial aircraft.
The first A320neo was delivered to Lufthansa on 20 January 2016 and it entered service
on 25 January 2016.
Development Origins
When Airbus designed the Airbus A300 during the late 1960s and early 1970s, it
envisaged a broad family of airliners with which to compete against Boeing and
Douglas, two established US aerospace manufacturers.
From the moment of formation, Airbus had begun studies into derivatives of the Airbus
A300B in support of this long-term goal.
Prior to the service introduction of the first Airbus airliners, engineers within Airbus had
identified nine possible variations of the A300 known as A300B1 to B9
A irbus A320
May 2017
www.alliance-airways.net
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