Description:
The Airbus A320 is a single-aisle, twin-engine, narrow-body, short- to medium-range aircraft family with a seating capacity for 100-220 passengers. The aircraft family includes the Airbus A318, A319, A320 and A321 featuring high degree of commonality of all models and low operating costs. Wider seats and aisle are meant to provide higher comfort to A320 passengers.
The fuselage body layout of the A320 family of aircraft allows a greater cargo capacity with A319, A320 and A321 fitted out with a containerized automatic cargo loading system to ease cargo handling operations. The cargo handling system of A320 aircraft is fully compatible with the worldwide standard widebody system installed in larger aircraft. Moreover, the A320 family offers low fuel burn and noise emissions characteristics.
The A320 family of aircraft was launched in 1984 and the first A320 jetliner entered service in 1988. It can be powered by either CFM International CFM56-5A (A319 and A320), -5B (A318, A319, A320 and A321) or IAE V2500 engines. In addition, The Pratt & Whitney PW6000 turbofan will power the Airbus A318 jetliner from 2005.
Typically, The A320 transports up to 150 passengers using a two-class layout over a range of 5,500 kilometers. It is considered as the best selling aircraft in the regional airliner category in the past decade. The A320 has been ordered and operates from six continents with Europe and the United States as the largest operators.
In October 2004, Turkish Airlines placed an order for 19 Airbus A320, 12 A321 and five A330-200 jetliners. IAE V2527-A5 engines were selected to power both Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft. Deliveries were scheduled to run from October 2005 through 2008.
On November 4, 2004, German Air Berlin and Austrian Niki Luftfahrt GmbH airlines signed a combined acquisition agreement for up to 110 Airbus A320 aircraft. The order placed by both airlines includes 70 firm orders and options on 40 A320s to be allocated at a later point in time. Firms orders will be split as follows: 60 aircraft for Air Berlin and the remaining 10 aircraft to be delivered to Niki Luftfahrt GmbH. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in September 2005.
On December 6, 2004, China Aviation Supplies Import & Export Group Corporation (CASGC) confirmed an order for 23 Airbus A320 aircraft in Beijing at a ceremony in the Great Hall of the People attended by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder.
TACA placed an order for 14 additional aircraft to a previous order with Airbus on December 14, 2004. Airbus will deliver 26 passenger aircraft (five A319s, 16 A320s and five A321s) to TACA between April 2005 and September 2009. Through this further order will become the first Latin American airline to operate Airbus A321 airliner.
AirAsia, Malaysia-based low-cost carrier, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the purchase of 40 Airbus A320 airplanes with options on 40 additional aircraft on December 17, 2004. The signing ceremony was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Deliveries are scheduled to commence in late 2005 and will continue until 2011. AirAsia signed the purchase contract on 25 March 2005 with an increase of 20 on the A320 firm order totaling 60 aircraft plus 40 options.
On December 18, 2004 Kingfisher Airlines of India signed a contract with Airbus for four firm order A320s and exercised an option on six additional aircraft totaling 10 A320s firm orders with deliveries scheduled from 2005. Kingfisher Airlines also retains options on a further 20 A320s. All of them will be powered by International Aero Engines (IAE) V2500s.
Air Deccan, India's low-fare carrier, signed a contract with Airbus for a further 30 A320 jetliners on December 21, 2004. The aircraft deliveries are due to begin in 2007. Air Deccan already ordered two Airbus A320s with options on two additional aircraft planned for delivery in 2005.
On December 22, 2004, Jazeera Airways, a privately owned airline from Kuwait, signed a contract with Airbus for four firm order A320s and took options on a further four. Deliveries were scheduled to begin in October 2005 with Jazeera Airways becoming new A320 operator.
British carrier GB Airways placed an order for five Airbus A320 single-aisle airplanes on March 29, 2005. These aircraft powered by IAE V2500 engines were scheduled for delivery from 2007 onwards.
Airbus and the China Aviation Supplies Import & Export Group Corporation (CASGC) signed a purchase order for 25 Airbus A320 aircraft at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on April 21, 2005. CASGC signed on behalf of China Eastern Airlines (5 A319s, 11 A321s and 4 A320s) and Shenzhen Airlines (3 A320s and 2 A319s). CASGC also signed for five Airbus A380s for China Southern Airlines totaling 30 Airbus aircraft firm orders.
Chinese carrier Sichuan Airlines placed an order for six Airbus A320s and two A319 jetliners on 17 May, 2005. These aircraft were scheduled to be delivered from late 2005 through 2008 powered by IAE V2500 engines.
On 15 June 2005, Singapore-based low fare carrier Tiger Airways agreed to purchase eight Airbus A320s with deliveries to begin in March 2006. These aircraft powered by IAE V2500 engines will be configured to seat 180 passengers in all economy class.
On 16 June 2005, Mexican low fare carrier ABC Aerolineas signed an agreement with Airbus for the purchase of 10 Airbus A320 commercial airplanes plus options on another 10 airplanes. The agreement was valued at $1.2 billion. On 7 November 2005 Mexican carrier Interjet, an ABC Aerolineas owned airline, signed the contract for ten firm order Airbus A320 airplanes plus another ten as option. Aircraft deliveries were confirmed to begin in the second quarter of 2007.
On 16 June 2005, Indian new low-cost carrier IndiGo, an InterGlobe Enterprises Limited company, committed to purchase 100 Airbus A320 passenger aircraft.
On 30 June 2005, GECAS (GE Commercial Aviation Services) and Airbus signed a letter of intent for a combination of A320s and A319s totaling 40 airplanes. The agreement featured flexibility allowing conversion of some orders to A321 airplanes.
On 8 July 2005, Iberia placed a firm order for 30 Airbus A320 jetliners powered by CFM56-5B engines and took options on another 49 airplanes. Deliveries were scheduled to commence in the second quarter of 2006. The firm order went for 10 A318s, 7 A319s, 10 A320s and 3 A321s.
On 18 August 2005, CIT Group Inc., a leasing provider of commercial and consumer financial solutions, signed an agreement with Airbus on five A350-800 and 24 A320 passenger airplanes. Deliveries of the A320 aircraft to CIT Group will start in 2007 and those of A350 in 2012.
On 7 September 2005, UK-based low-fare carrier Wizz Air placed an order for 12 Airbus A320 aircraft family including both A320 and A319 models. These aircraft were to be powered by IAE V2500-A5 engines with deliveries expected to begin in the summer 2007. The agreement also included options on further 12 aircraft. The A320 airplanes cabin layout was for 180 passengers and the A319 for up to 156 passengers.
Chile's LAN Airlines signed an agreement on 25 firm order Airbus A320s plus 15 aircraft options October 11th, 2005. The aircraft to be delivered to LAN from 2006 include the A320, A318 and A319 airplanes. LAN's A318 will be the first of such aircraft to be powered by Pratt & Whitney PW6000 engines with the remaining aircraft models to be powered by IAE V2500-A5 engines.
India's carrier Kingfisher signed an agreement for the purchase of 30 Airbus A320 airplanes, comprising a mix of A319 and A320 models, on November 21, 2005. The agreement signing occurred at Dubai Air Show. Aircraft deliveries were scheduled to begin in early 2008. All these aircraft were to be powered by IAE V2500 engines valued at $500 million.
Kuwait-based Jazeera Airways signed a purchase agreement with Airbus for six more A320 airplanes powered by CFM56-5 engines and cabin layout for 165 passengers. The contract was singed on November 21 2005.
Amsterdam-based AerCap, formerly known as debis AirFinance, signed a letter of intent for the purchase of 70 Airbus A320 family aircraft on November 23, 2005.
On 28 November 2005 Chinese carrier East Star Airlines based in Wuhan signed a letter of intent for the purchase of 10 Airbus A320 airliners powered by CFM56-5B engines with a firm lease deal with GECAS for another 10 A320s. Leased aircraft deliveries were scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2006. Airbus purchased aircraft were set to be delivered between 2009 and 2010.
In early December 2005 coinciding with a visit paid by Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao to France, China Aviation Supplies Import and Export Group (CASGC) and Airbus signed a general Terms Agreement (GTA) for the purchase of 150 A320 family aircraft valued at close to $10 billion. The agreement was signed in Paris on December 5, 2005. The order was the largest ever placed for the A320 aircraft family. Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, and Hainan Airlines will take delivery of 150 A320s including A319, A320 and A321 models.
On 6 December 2005 Philippine Airlines placed an order for nine Airbus A320s and took options on further five aircraft with deliveries due to commence in the second half of 2006 and will continue through 2012. In addition. Philippine Airlines was leasing two new A320s and another two A319s from GECAS as part of its fleet renewal program.
On December 12, 2005 Greek carrier Aegean Airlines placed an order for eight Airbus A320 aircraft with options for an additional 12 A320 family aircraft. The aircraft were to be configured in a high comfort two-class layout. Aegean Airlines also selected IAE V2500 engines to power its new A320 aircraft fleet. The engine contract for firm order aircraft was valued at $110 million.
Indian carrier Air Deccan placed a firm order for 30 more Airbus A320 airplanes with seating capacity for 180 passengers each in a single-class cabin layout on December 22, 2005. Bangalore-based Air Deccan was ordering 62 firm order A320s including this contract. In March 2006 Air Deccan issued the engine contract to IAE and its V2500 turbofan.
On 12 January 2006, Italian carrier Air One placed an order for 30 Airbus A320 airplanes with 60 more on option. Air One selected CFM International CFM56-5B6/P engines to power its newest aircraft.
On 27 January 2006, Airbus announced that Japanese carrier ANA (All Nippon Airways) placed an order for five A320 airplanes in late 2005. These airliners were set to be powered by CFM International CFM56-5B4/P engines.
On 20 February 2006 Indian Airlines Ltd signed a contract for 43 Airbus A320 aircraft family featuring two-class cabin layouts and CFM56-5 engines. The order comprised 20 A319s, 4 A320s and 19 A321s and represented the first time ever an Indian carrier was ordering the A321 model.
On 23 February 2006, Mumbai-based carrier GoAir signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus for 10 A320 family aircraft plus 10 options. On April 18, 2006 the Indian carrier announced the CFM56-5B engine selection with deliveries starting by mid-2007. The engine contract for the firm aircraft was valued at $120 million.
On May 2, 2006 Denver-based carrier Frontier Airlines placed its first ever order for the Airbus A320 type. In addition, Frontier was converting four A319 orders to A320s and another four A319 to A318s. The order was for six A320 airplanes to be delivered to the low-cost carrier starting in 2008 through 2010 along with the four A320 conversions. A318 deliveries were expected to start in 2007.
On 17 July 2006, Mumbai-based GoAir signed with Airbus for 10 A320 airplanes plus an option on further 10 aircraft at Farnborough air show in England. These aircraft were to be powered by CFM International engines.
On 18 July 2006, Libyan-carrier Afriqiyah Airways ordered three Airbus A330-200s plus further three as option, six A320s and three A319s plus an option on five.
On 19 July 2006, ILFC placed an order for six Airbus A320 airplanes at Farnborough Air Show in England.
On 19 July 2006, Greek carrier Aegean Airlines placed an order for three Airbus A320 airplanes. Deliveries were expected to take place between January 2007 and April 2009. Equipped with a two-class cabin layout these airplanes will be powered by IAE V2500 engines.
On 20 July 2006, Hungarian carrier Wizz Air signed a firm contract with Airbus for 20 additional A320s powered by IAE V2500 engines. These aircraft will be delivered configured in a single-class layout seating up to 180 passengers.
On 19 July 2006, AirAsia placed an order for 40 Airbus A320 aircraft family and took options on another 30 A320s. The order was intented as a replacement for aging Boeing 737-300s. AirAsia group operates in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. The contract was signed at the Farnborough Air Show.
On 20 July 2006, CIT Group Inc, a leasing company, signed a contract with Airbus for five A330-200 wide-body jetliners and four A320s at Farnborough air show.
On 21 July 2006, Dusseldorf-based Blue Wings signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Airbus for the acquisition of 20 A320 family aircraft. Cabin configuration and engine selection were expected to be taken in a later date.
On 13 October, 2006, German carrier Lufthansa placed an order for five Airbus A319s, 10 A320s, 15 A321s and 5 A330-300s plus an option for an additional A320 family aircraft. The engine decision was delayed to a later date.
On 17 October 2006, Singapore's low-fare carrier Tiger Airways placed an order for 8 Airbus A320 jetliners powered by IAE V2500 engines and configured in a 180-seat economy class cabin layout.
On 17 October 2006, German carrier Blue Wings, together with its shareholder Alpstream, signed a contract with Airbus for 16 A320s and 4 A321s seating 150 and 210 passengers respectively.
On 13 November 2006, Kuwait-based ALAFCO signed a firm order for six A320 airplanes with Airbus.
On 13 November 2006, Pakistani carrier Airblue signed a firm order for two Airbus A320s configured with 157 seats in a dual class.
Specifications Accommodation: Crew 2, Passengers 150
Dimensions: Height 11.8 m, Length 37.6 m, Wingspan 34 m
Weights: Max Weight 73,900 kg (162,919 lb), Min Weight 41,000 kg (90,388 lb), Payload 16,300 kg (35,935 lb)
Engine/s Performance: Thrust 54,000 lb (24,494 kg)
Performance: Max Range 5,500 km (2,970 nm), Top Speed 273 mps (Mach 0.82)
Armenia
Australia
Austria / 20 
Bahrain / 25 
Belgium
Brazil / 90 
Aircraft ordered by TAM (90)
Chile / 60 
China
Colombia
Czech Republic
Egypt
El Salvador
Finland
France / 18 
Germany
Greece
Hungary / 20 
India
Indonesia / 25 
Ireland
Israel / 3 
Italy / 40 
Jamaica
Japan
Kazakhstan / 6 
Kuwait
Lebanon
Libya / 18 
Malaysia / 175 
Mexico / 20 
Moldova
Nepal / 1 
Netherlands
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Aircraft ordered by Air New Zealand (14)
Oman / 2 
Pakistan / 16 
Philippines
Poland / 132 
Portugal / 8 
Qatar / 20 
Russia
Aircraft ordered by S7 Group/Airlines (25); Ural Airlines (7)
Saudi Arabia / 42 
Senegal / 4 
Singapore
Spain / 95 
Switzerland / 34 
Tunisia
Turkey
United Arab Emirates / 134 
United Kingdom
United States of America
Sold to CIT Group (157); Aviation Capital Group (148); US Airways (40); GECAS (60)
Uzbekistan / 10 
Vietnam
Yemen / 10