About the Airbus A320neo
Airbus announced the A320neo, short for New Engine Option, in December 2010. The concept kept the A320 airframe and added a new generation of turbofans: the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-JM geared turbofan and the CFM International LEAP-1A. Airbus states that these engines, together with Sharklet wingtips and cabin changes, cut fuel burn and CO2 emissions per seat by at least 20 percent compared with the predecessor, and quotes a range of up to 3,400 nautical miles (6,300 km).
The A320neo first flew on September 25, 2014. Airbus handed over the first production aircraft to the Lufthansa Group on January 20, 2016, a Pratt & Whitney powered jet registered D-AINA, which began scheduled flights that same month. The LEAP-1A powered version received joint EASA and FAA certification on May 31, 2016.
Airbus offers two engine families for the A320neo. The choice of engine does not create a different tracking page: both belong under A20N. The FAA designator list also includes the corporate ACJ320neo under that code.
Seating capacity and cabin layout
Seat counts on the A320neo are decided by each airline, so two aircraft with the same type code can differ noticeably inside.
- Maximum capacity according to Airbus: 194 passengers.
- Typical two-class layout according to Airbus: 150 to 180 passengers.
Newer deliveries can be fitted with the Airspace cabin, which Airbus introduced first on the A330neo and A350 and which brings larger overhead bins. Whether a given aircraft has it depends on the airline's order.
How to recognize an Airbus A320neo
The A320neo keeps the fuselage of the original A320, so size alone does not help: Airbus lists the same 37.57 m (123.27 ft) overall length for the A320-200 and the A320neo. The clues are on the wing.
- Engines: the A320neo is offered with Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-JM or CFM LEAP-1A engines. Check the model record as well as the aircraft's appearance.
- Sharklets: the upturned wingtips are standard on every A320neo. They are not proof on their own, because Airbus also offered them on late-build A320ceo aircraft and as a retrofit.
The official type record for a registration remains the reliable confirmation.
Variants and related aircraft
Within A20N, engine equipment and cabin design can differ. An airline A320neo and a corporate ACJ320neo share a tracking designator, but the passenger capacity and interior should not be assumed to match. The designator is a model identifier, not a cabin description.
Related types with their own designators: A320 for the original A320 (ceo); A19N for the shorter Airbus A319neo; A21N for the longer Airbus A321neo.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the A320neo and the A320?
The A320neo uses the same fuselage as the A320 but has new, larger-fan engines, standard Sharklet wingtips and cabin changes. Airbus states that this cuts fuel burn and CO2 per seat by at least 20 percent compared with the earlier model, now often called the A320ceo.
Which engines does the Airbus A320neo have?
Airlines choose between the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-JM geared turbofan and the CFM International LEAP-1A.
When did the A320neo enter service?
Airbus delivered the first A320neo to the Lufthansa Group on January 20, 2016, and that aircraft, D-AINA, began scheduled service the same month. The first flight had taken place on September 25, 2014.
Sources
- faa.gov — appendix_3.html
- aircraft.airbus.com — a320neo
- airbus.com — 2016 05 a320neo with cfm leap 1a engines receives joint easa and faa
- airbus.com — 2016 02 lufthansa takes delivery of the worlds first airbus a320neo as
- airbus.com — 2016 02 a321neo takes to the sky for the first time
- airbus.com — 2017 02 winglets a tip top solution for more efficient aircraft
Aircraft information reviewed on . Airline configurations can change.