Airbus unveils first ever A320neo
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The first ever Airbus A320neo aircraft has emerged from the planemaker’s assembly line in France.
The new single-aisle jet will now commence test flights in September, ahead of its planned entry into service in the fourth quarter of 2015.
The A320neo (or ‘new engine option’) is the new fuel-efficient version of the popular A320 model, and features a series of enhancements designed to improve efficiency and reduce emissions.
As well as new engines, which have been designed by Pratt & Whitney and CFM International, new design features include large wing-tip extensions known as ‘Sharklets’, which are intended to reduce drag. The airframe is also made partially using lightweight composite materials.
In total, these efficiency measures are designed to offer 15% fuel savings compared to the previous version, or the equivalent of approximately 3,600 tonnes of CO2 per year.
As with the existing A320 series, Airbus will produce three versions of the A320neo – the smaller A319neo, standard A320neo and stretched A321neo. Leasing company ILFC will be the launch customer for the two larger versions, while Qatar Airways will receive the first A319neo.
To-date, Airbus has taken orders for almost 2,700 A320neo series aircraft. Major airline customers include Asian low-cost carriers AirAsia, Lion Air, IndiGo and VietJet Air, plus global full-service airlines such as American Airlines, Qantas, Lufthansa and China Southern Airlines.
The new aircraft will soon be joined in the single-aisle jet market by the new Boeing 737 MAX and Bombardier CSeries.
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