Airbus · Narrowbody · In Production

Airbus A320neo

Acroterion — CC BY-SA 4.0

The Airbus A320neo (New Engine Option) is a short- to medium-range, single-aisle narrow-body airliner developed by Airbus. Serving as a modernized and highly efficient evolution of the baseline A320ceo family, the aircraft incorporates high-bypass turbofan engines and large wingtip devices known as Sharklets to substantially reduce fuel burn and operating costs.

As a dominant force in modern commercial aviation, the A320neo has captured a massive share of the single-aisle market since entering commercial service. It offers airlines flexible high-density cabin layouts while delivering a significant double-digit reduction in carbon emissions and noise footprint compared to its predecessor generation.

By The Numbers

The Airbus A320neo family has achieved unprecedented commercial success, accumulating over 12,000 orders since its launch and surpassing the 20,000 total order milestone for the broader A320 lineage. Out of this massive backlog, Airbus has delivered thousands of neo aircraft globally, anchored heavily by the larger A321neo variant which makes up a commanding share of the active order book. Airbus continues to scale up its industrial footprint to satisfy this demand, targeting a historic output rate across its final assembly lines in Europe, China, and the United States.

Operators spanning major legacy carriers, large low-cost groups, and major global lessors heavily utilize the A320neo family across Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. High-density short and medium-haul networks run by airlines such as IndiGo, AirAsia, American Airlines, and various major European carriers rely on these jets for fuel efficiency. Furthermore, the surging popularity of longer-range variants like the A321neo, LR, and XLR has expanded the aircraft's footprint into transcontinental and thin transatlantic markets.

Comparison

Airbus A320neo vs Airbus A320ceo

Spec	Airbus A320neo	Airbus A320ceo
Entered Service	2016	1988
Engines	2x CFM International LEAP-1A or Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-JM	2x CFM International CFM56-5 or IAE V2500
Range	6,500 km (3,500 nmi)	approx. 6,100 km (3,300 nmi)
Cruise Speed	Mach 0.78 (828 km/h)	Mach 0.78 (approx. 828 km/h)
Typical Seating	150 to 180 (two class)	140–150 (two class)
Max Takeoff Weight	79,000 kg (174,165 lb)	78,000 kg (171,960 lb)

What Changed

The Airbus A320neo replaces the classic A320ceo generation by introducing next-generation high-bypass powerplants—specifically the CFM International LEAP-1A or Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-JM—which replace older CFM56 and IAE V2500 engines. Combined with standard large-span aerodynamic wingtip devices known as sharklets, these updates yield a real-world fuel burn reduction ranging from 15% to 20% compared to the baseline ceo variant.

View full Airbus A320ceo profile →

Manufacturing

Where It's Built

Final assembly of the Airbus A320neo family takes place across a globally integrated network of final assembly lines (FALs) located in Toulouse (France), Hamburg (Germany), Tianjin (China), and Mobile (Alabama, United States). Major structural sections and systems are fabricated across specialized European and international facilities before delivery to the assembly lines. The forward fuselage sections and cockpit structures are produced in France, while the central and rear fuselage barrels, along with tailcones and cargo doors, are manufactured in Germany. Structural wing assemblies are engineered and built in the United Kingdom, and the horizontal tail planes are manufactured in Spain. Secondary structures, high-lift devices, and aerodynamic fairings are supplied by a network of specialized aerostructures partners, and avionics systems are integrated across primary electrical and flight-control production hubs.

Regarding the program's initial development cost, Airbus officially estimated an investment of more than €1 billion ($1.3 billion) at the program's launch in December 2010 to introduce the re-engined variant and wingtip sharklets.

Notable Operators

IndiGoLufthansaAmerican AirlineseasyJetSAS

Watch

Airbus A320neo In Action

Airbus A320 Tutorial 8: Takeoff and Initial Climb | Real Airbus Pilot

Airbus Commercial Aircraft - Formation Flight

Latest

Airbus A320neo in the News

aviation

ALM Buys Cebu Pacific A320neo

airlines

BOC Aviation Orders 12 Airbus A320neos for Avianca

airlines

Air Cairo Orders 15 Airbus A320neo Jets

airlines

Austrian Airlines launches Starlink fast inflight Wi-Fi

aviation

Young Airbus A320neo Scrapped for Parts

airlines

LATAM Pours $25M Into Fast Satellite Wi-Fi for 60+ Jets

Sources & Further Reading