Airbus launches A320neo

To start this blog I want to start with the news that Airbus has launched it's A320 re-engining program called "new engine option" or "neo".

The neo will feature two new engine types, the PurePower PW1100G Geared Turbo Fan (GTF) by Pratt & Whitney or the Leap-X by CFMI, a joint venture of GE Aviation of the United States and Snecma of France.

The A320neo with the P&W engines.

In adition to the new engines the neo will be delivered with the new large wingtip devices for the A320 called 'Sharklets' bringing the total fuel savings up to 15% compared to the current A320 aircraft.

It's expected that the first neo will be delivered in the spring of 2016 starting with the A320neo, about six months later the A321neo will be introduced and thereafter the A319neo. About the A318neo little is know besides a quote by Mr. John Leahy, COO of Airbus saying that Airbus has decided to focus the program on the A320, A321 and A319 being the "core market" of the A320 family but the A318neo is still a possibility.
The airframe of the neo will be about 95% the same as the current A320 with most of the changes focussed on the wings and pylon structures.

Airbus expects that the neo will attract about 4000 orders in the coming 15 years and although there aren't any orders yet the company is confident that those orders will come quickly and says that major airlines like  Lufthansa, Qatar Airways and AirAsia are amongst the interested customers, all of whom are very interested in the new aircraft.

To conclude this first blogmessage the interview with Mr. John Leahy on the launch day of the A320neo: