AIRCRAFT PROGRAM

Family of single aisle medium-range twin-jet airliners. Final assembly in Hamburg (originally Toulouse), and in China from 2008, and Mobile, Alabama from 2017. Latest A320neo 'new engine option' variants are powered by CFM or Pratt & Whitney engines. Major sub-assemblies made in France - front fuselage, centre wing box, engine pylons and some doors, Germany - remaining fuselage, tailcone, flaps, fin and rudder, UK - wings, and several other countries.

First conventional airliner to feature composite major structures (carbon fibre reinforced plastic tailplane and rudder), fly-by-wire and side-stick controller, centralised maintenance system. Aluminium alloy construction, with two-spar multi-rib wing box and Sharklet wingtips. Belly fairing skins from AFRP, fin leading edge from GFRP and carbon fibre reinforced plastic extensively: flaps, spoilers, ailerons, elevators and undercarriage doors.

Crew of two have four EFIS displays and two aircraft monitoring displays.

The AlbatrossOne is a small-scale remote controlled demonstrator based on the A321, with freely flapping wingtips to reduce drag and turbulence.

Type variants

Variant	Launch/First flight	Production end
Airbus A320	1984 / 1987		Includes A320-100 (out of service) and -200 (now A320ceo). Available as ACJ320neo. Maximum capacity up to 186 seats.
Airbus A321	1989 / 1993		Stretched variant of A320, as A321-100 and -200 (now A321ceo), and ACJ321 Prestige business jet. Long-range (A321LR) and extra long-range versions (A321XLR).
Airbus A319	1993 / 1995		Short fuselage variant of the A320, includes the ACJ319. Original A319-100 now branded A319ceo (current engine option).
Airbus A318	1999 / 2002	2015	Short body variant of the A319, including the ACJ318 Elite business jet. Maximum capacity 136, typically 117 passengers. Laser welded lower fuselage.
Airbus A320neo	2010 / 2014		Upgraded engine variant.
Airbus A321neo	2015 / 2016		Upgraded engine variant.
Airbus A319neo	2017 / 2019		Upgraded engine variant.

Recent news

• 06/04/2023:  Press Release:  Airbus and China aviation industry sign next phase in partnership
• 30/03/2023:  NEWS:  Airbus hands over first A321neo assembled in China
• 28/03/2023:  Press Release:  A321XLR programme completes second cold-weather testing campaign
• 09/03/2023:  NEWS:  Collins keeps faith with Magellan's complex castings
• 19/01/2023:  Press Release:  Triumph receives award from Airbus for control cables on the A330, A320 and A350 programs

View full news archive for the Airbus A320.

See recent updates (latest 09/06/2023)

Operations data

For detailed information about current charter operators, maintenance and training providers, and completions services for this aircraft, please consult our sister publication Business Air News: Airbus ACJ319 | Airbus ACJ320 | Airbus ACJ321