Tag Archives: Airbus A320neo

Airbus A320neo with LEAP-1A engines takes to the skies for the first time

Airbus (Toulouse) has issued this statement, video and photo:

The first A320neo equipped with CFM International LEAP-1A engines completed its maiden flight on May 19 in Toulouse, France. The aircraft, registration F-WNEW, was flown by Experimental Test Pilots Philippe Perrin and Malcolm Ridley. Accompanying them in the cockpit was Test-Flight Engineer Jean-Michel Pin and monitoring the progress of the flight profile were the Flight-Test Engineers Tuan Do and Philippe Pupin. The flight lasted 4 hours and 25 minutes during which tests were performed to validate the aircraft’s flight envelope up to the maximum altitude (39,000 feet) and test the engine speed variation (low/high) in addition to checking systems behavior.

The newest member of the A320 Family, the A320neo, incorporates many innovations including latest generation engines, Sharklet wing tip devices and cabin improvements, which together will deliver up to 20 percent in fuel savings by 2020.The flight test campaign of the A320neo has accumulated more than 400 flight hours in around 130 flights since first flight on September 25, 2014.

Photo below: Airbus.

Bloomberg: Air India wants to order 14 Airbus A320neo aircraft

Air India (Mumbai) according to Bloomberg, quoting unnamed sources, is in negotiation with Airbus in order to acquire 14 new A320neo aircraft.

The flag carrier is also considering converting some Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners orders (seven remain on order) to the larger 787-9.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo below: Ole Simon/AirlinersGallery.com. The newer Airbus A320s would replace the older models. Airbus A320-214 VT-EDF (msn 4237) arrives in Dubai.

Air India aircraft slide show:

Avianca firms up its order for 100 Airbus A320neo Family aircraft

Airbus (Toulouse) has issued this statement:

Following a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) announcement in February, Avianca (Bogota) has signed a purchase agreement for 100 A320neo Family aircraft, the largest single order ever made in Latin America’s aviation history. The agreement, which includes A319neo, A320neo and A321neo aircraft (below), will allow Avianca to maintain one of the youngest fleets in the region as the airline aims to replace airplanes currently operating from their Bogota, Lima and San Salvador hubs.

Image Above: Airbus.

Established in Colombia in 1919, Avianca was the first airline in the Americas, and is the second oldest airline in the world. The Airbus-Avianca partnership was taken to a new level in 1998 when TACA (now part of Avianca), LAN, and TAM placed a joint order for 90 single-aisle aircraft. This was the largest joint contract ever signed in Latin American commercial aviation history. To date, the Avianca airline group has ordered nearly 300 aircraft including 276 A320 Family (among them, 133 A320neo Family) and 15 A330 Family.

To date, the A320neo program has 345 firm orders from six customers in Latin America — Avianca, Azul, Interjet, LATAM Airlines Group, VivaAerobus and Volaris. With more than 950 aircraft sold and a backlog of nearly 500, more than 550 Airbus aircraft are in operation throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. In the last 10 years, Airbus has tripled its in-service fleet, while delivering more than 60 percent of all aircraft operating in the region.

Top Copyright Photo: Jay Selman/AirlinersGallery.com. Avianca will remain an Airbus A320 Family operator. Current generation Airbus A320-214 N724AV (msn 6153) climbs away from Miami International Airport (MIA).

Avianca (Colombia) aircraft slide show:

Avianca signs a MOU for 100 Airbus A320neo Family aircraft

Avianca Holdings S.A. (Avianca) (Bogota) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Airbus for 100 A320neo Family aircraft. Avianca will base its fleet renewal strategy on the A320neo Family.

Avianca has partnered with Airbus on its fleet modernization and expansion programs for years. In 2012, Avianca ordered 51 A320 Family aircraft, including 33 A320neo aircraft. The airline group has combined orders for nearly 200 Airbus aircraft, with nearly 130 currently in operation.

Firm orders for the NEO reached over 3,600 aircraft from 70 customers.

To date, the A320neo program has 245 firm orders from seven customers in Latin America — Avianca, Azul, Interjet, LAN, TAM, VivaAerobus and Volaris. With more than 850 aircraft sold and a backlog of nearly 400, more than 550 Airbus aircraft are in operation throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

Image:

Avianca (Colombia) aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-CSAmerica-1/Airlines-Latin-America1-AF/Avianca-Colombia

China Aircraft Leasing Company firms up its order for 100 Airbus A320 Family aircraft

China Aircraft Leasing Company (CALC), the leading independent aircraft operating lessor in China, firmed up its contract in December 2014 with Airbus for 100 A320 Family aircraft. The order comprises 74 A320neo, 16 A320ceo and 10 A321ceo. Including this new order, CALC’s total backlog with Airbus stands at 140 A320 Family aircraft.

The A320neo “new engine option” incorporates many innovations, including latest generation engines and large Sharklet wing-tip devices, which together deliver 15 percent in fuel savings from day one and 20 per cent by 2020 which is equivalent to a reduction of 5,000 tons of CO2 per aircraft per year.

China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings Limited (CALC) was founded in 2006. The company has offices in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Tianjin in China and Ireland, and also liaison and coordination staff in Toulouse, France. In addition, CALC has a wholly-own leasing subsidiary, namely China Asset Leasing company Limited, in Dongjiang Free Trade Port Zone（DFTP） in Tianjin, China. Moreover, CALC sets up another wholly-owned leasing company at Shanghai FTA- Yongshun Financial Leasing Limited.

Image: Airbus.

Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras to become a new Airbus A320neo operator

Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras (Sao Paulo) will become a new Airbus A320neo operator starting in 2016. The company has issued this statement (translated from Portuguese):

Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras will have a new aircraft type to its fleet from 2016: this is the Airbus A320neo. The company intends to use the new aircraft to increase its supply of seats on routes of long distances and high demand of customers. The A320neo will be configured for up to 174 seats and equipped with the new generation of CFM International LEAP-1A engines. The agreement provides for the introduction of 63 aircraft, of which 35 will be acquired by the Blue and the other 28 will be through leasing with AerCap companies (20 units) and GECAS (8 units). All aircraft will be gradually introduced to the company’s fleet between 2016 and 2023.

“The A320neo will be a perfect addition to our fleet of Embraer and ATR jets. We evaluated the Boeing aircraft, which has options in the same category, but we chose the Airbus for comfort and lower operating costs, allowing us to offer even more competitive rates on long-haul routes. The A320neo consume up to 20% less fuel per seat / km over the current model. They will have already established the Azul Area and will be equipped with slimline seats and live TV. In addition, the bathrooms of the new model have been repositioned and give more space to the cabin, “said David Neeleman, founder and CEO of Blue. “The new aircraft will also benefit other Blue’s business units. We may, for example, devote more space to carry loads, or even provide more seats for customers of TudoAzul and Blue Travel, “added Neeleman.

Image: Airbus.

China Aviation Supplies orders 70 Airbus A320 Family aircraft

China Aviation Supplies Holding Company (CAS) and Airbus have signed a General Terms Agreement (GTA) for the purchase of a total of 70 Airbus A320 Family aircraft, reflecting the strong demand from Chinese carriers for the leading Airbus single-aisle Family for domestic, low cost, regional and international operations. The GTA was signed by Fabrice Brégier, Airbus President and CEO and Li Hai, President of CAS.
At present, the in-service Airbus fleet with Chinese operators comprises over 1,000 aircraft (around 140 A330 Family and over 920 A320 Family aircraft). In the 20 year period between 2014 to 2033 Airbus forecasts a demand in China for more than 5,300 new commercial aircraft over 100 seats plus freighters.

Today more than 900 in service A320 Family aircraft operate with 16 Chinese carriers and over 190 A320 Family aircraft have been assembled and delivered from the FALC in Tianjin. The A320 Family is the world’s best-selling single aisle product line with more than 11,000 orders to date and over 6,200 aircraft delivered. Thanks to its wide cabin, all members of the A320 Family offer the industry’s best level of comfort in all classes and Airbus’ 18” wide seats in economy as standard.

Copyright Photo: Eurospot/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-271N F-WNEO (msn 6101) arrives back at Toulouse after the first flight.

The first Airbus A320neo flies today for the first time

Airbus (Toulouse) today (September 25) flew for the first time its first A320neo (New Engine Option). The manufacturer issued this statement:

The first A320neo to fly lifted off at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport France today at 12 noon local time. The aircraft was flown by Airbus Experimental Test Pilots Philippe Pellerin and Etienne Miche de Malleray. Accompanying them in the cockpit were Test-Flight Engineer Jean-Paul Lambert. Monitoring the progress of the flight profile were the Flight-Test Engineers Manfred Birnfeld and Sandra Bour-Schaeffer.

This aircraft, A320-271N msn 6101 with the registration of F-WNEO, started assembly in March of this year, followed by roll-out in July. Since then, it has undergone various checks and ground tests in preparation for the first flight today.

Video:

The first Airbus A320neo to make its first flight on September 25, Airbus reportedly shrinks the size of one bathroom

Airbus (Toulouse) is planning to conduct the first flight for its new Airbus A320neo (new engine option) (above) on Thursday, September 25.

According to this article by Bloomberg Businessweek, Airbus is redesigning the size of the A320neo lavatories because the company believes the bathrooms take up too much space (this is while people are getting bigger!). According to a report by the Los Angeles Times, Airbus is shrinking the width of one of the bathrooms to make more room in other areas. Airbus did not respond to confirm the media report.

Are airplane bathrooms getting too small for the general population?

Read the full article: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Eurospot/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-271N F-WNEO (msn 6101) is pictured doing a taxi test at Toulouse with the distinctive NEO markings.

Swiss orders 15 new Airbus A320neo aircraft + 10 options

Airbus (Toulouse) has confirmed the previous report from the Lufthansa Group that Swiss International Air Lines (Zurich) has placed a firm order for 15 new Airbus A320neo aircraft. Here is the short statement from Airbus:

Lufthansa Group’s supervisory board has announced that Swiss, a member-airline of the Group, will expand its Airbus A320 fleet with a firm order for 15 A320neo aircraft, plus an additional ten of the type to be confirmed at a later stage. The fuel-efficient NEO-fleet will gradually renew and replace Swiss’ existing fleet of A320 Family aircraft.

Related to this, Airbus also confirmed Lufthansa Group’s firm order for ten A320ceo aircraft for its subsidiary Eurowings. The new aircraft will become the backbone of the new low cost business model announced by the Lufthansa Group in July 2014, which foresees Eurowings operations on direct connections within Europe.

Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. The newer A320neo aircraft will replace the older A320s like Airbus A320-214 HB-IJX (msn 1762) arriving at Zurich.

Swiss: