A320

The Airbus A320 is a family of narrow-body, twin-engine airliners designed and produced by Airbus. It is the smallest member of the A320 family to be produced at high volume and is one of the most widely used commercial aircraft in the world. The program led to a number of innovations, including a fully digital fly-by-wire flight control system and a side-stick controller, with a common cockpit across the family. The A320 first flew on February 22, 1987, and entered service in 1988 with Air France.

The A320 is typically configured for 140 to 170 passengers in two-class service, with a range that varies by variant. The family comprises the A318, A319, A320, and A321, with the A320-200 being the baseline model. The initial version used engines such as the CFM56-5A/5B or IAE V2500.

A320neo, or New Engine Option, was introduced in the 2010s and entered service in 2016. It features new high-efficiency engines (CFM LEAP-1A or Pratt & Whitney PW1100G) and improved aerodynamics, including sharklets, delivering lower fuel burn and extended range. The neo variant has become the preferred option for new orders, while the original A320 (ceo) remains in service.

Production and operations: final assembly lines are located in Toulouse and Hamburg in Europe, with additional lines in Tianjin, China, and Mobile, Alabama, USA for regional output. The A320 family is widely used by airlines around the world, valued for its efficiency, common cockpit, and versatility on short- to medium-range routes.