The Airbus A320 Family

The A320 family includes the A318, A319, A320, A321, A319neo, A320neo, A321neo, A321LR and A321XLR as the main variants. There are also a number of engine sub-variants within each main type, consideration of which goes beyond the scope of this article.

The origin of the A320 family dates back to 1977 with the establishment of the Joint European Transport (JET) programme involving Aerospatiale of France, British Aerospace, and Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohmr and Fokker-VFW from Germany. Although they were all partners in the Airbus consortium at the time, the JET programme was not initially an official Airbus project. Their focus was to develop a new 130-170 seat airliner. The programme was eventually transferred to Airbus who evaluated different concepts for the 125-180 seat aircraft market. Three classes of concept aircraft emerged called the Single Aisle Series SA1, SA2 and SA3, which evolved into the A319, A320 and A321 respectively.

Airbus A320

Airbus A320-200SL of Vueling, fitted sharklets on the wingtips which are optional on the A320ceo. (Nigel Richardson)

The A320 was the first of the single aisle aircraft family, with the programme initially launched in 1984, as competition for the Boeing 737. The development phase lasted three years and was followed by the roll-out from the assembly line and maiden flight of the first A320 in February 1987. The original A320-100 variant, 123ft 3ins long, was equipped with four fuel tanks in the wings, and could carry up to 150 passengers over ranges of 1850-2850nm. However, Airbus gave up on the A320-100 variant because airlines required greater range capabilities and an ability to carry higher payloads. Ultimately, only 21 A320-100s were ever built.

The A320-100 was succeeded by the A320-200ceo (current engine option), which has a fifth fuel tank housed in the centre wing box, raising the fuel capacity by 50%, and providing the required higher range and payload capabilities. Further additions include winglets in the form of wingtip fences, to improve aerodynamic efficiency of the wing, and consequently reduce fuel consumption.

The A320 was the first civil airliner to include a digital fly-by-wire control system. Pilot’s inputs are sent as electrical signals, via the flight control computers, to the hydraulic actuators at the control surfaces, replacing the traditional cable- and/or hydraulically-driven flight controls which are linked mechanically to the pilots’ cockpit controls. This fly-by-wire system enabled Airbus to introduce a side-stick controller rather than the traditional yoke control column still found today in Boeing aircraft. A further advantage was the introduction of the Flight Envelope Protection system which uses the flight control computers to prevent aircraft flying beyond performance capabilities. The full glass flight deck of the A320 was also the first for an airliner. It features six multifunction primary flight and navigation displays for the monitoring of flight information.

To ensure that the airliner is fuel efficient, the A320 is built from a significant number of composite materials in the aircraft’s primary structures, including Carbon fibre and glass fibre reinforced plastics, to reduce the weight. In addition, it is powered using efficient, new generation turbofan engines. Two options are available: CFM International CFM56 and International Aero Engines (IAE) V2500s). The A320ceo can carry 140-170 passengers in a two-class configuration over ranges up to 3,350nm.

Airbus A320neo of Lufthansa, with two emergency exits over the wing, sharklets on the wingtips and larger engines compared with the A320ceo. (Nigel Richardson)

In 2006 Airbus began working on an improved A320 called the A320E (enhanced). This evolved into the A320neo (new engine option). The A320neo was launched in 2010 and first flew in September 2014. Customers were offered a choice between two new-generation engines to power the A320neo, either the CFM International LEAP 1A or the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G Geared Turbofan. The new engines are projected to reduce fuel consumption by 15-20% compared with the A320ceo, together with a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and operating costs. The A320neo retains 95% commonality with the standard A320 family. Modifications, in addition to the new engines, include sharklets as standard on the wing tips instead of the previous wingtip fences, to improve lift and reduce drag which can lead to a reduction in fuel burn (Sharklets had been introduced as an option on more recent build A320ceo family members). Further modifications include strengthened outer wing sections and landing gear, and a new ‘Airspace’ cabin design.

Identification tips

Airbus A320-200ceo of Swiss International Airlines. Note the two emergency exits above the wing and the wingtip fences. (Nigel Richardson)

A key characteristic of both variants of the A320 compared with the other members of the A320 family is two emergency exits over the wing. In addition, the A320ceo has wingtip fences compared with the sharklets as a standard feature on the A320neo, although sharklets were introduced as an option on more recent build A320ceo aircraft, and retrofitted on some earlier-build aircraft. The A320ceo has smaller engines than the A320neo and no short extensions above and below the exhaust nozzle

Airbus A321

Airbus A321-200ceo of Turkish Airlines. This example has the optional sharklets on the wingtips. (Nigel Richardson)

The A321 was launched in 1989 and first flew in March 1993. It is the largest member of the A320 family, featuring a stretch of the fuselage through the insertion of a 14ft fuselage plug in front of the wing, and an 8ft 9ins plug behind the wing, extending the overall length to 146ft. The first variant was the A321-100, of which 90 were built. A second variant, the A321-200, was launched in 1995 and made its maiden flight in December 1996. The A321-200 is a heavier, longer-range variant, offering two optional additional centre fuel tanks alongside the standard tanks in each wing and a centre tank in the wing box. The A321ceo has a significant amount of commonality with the A320, which was a key factor in the development of the range. However, there are some differences. These include more powerful engines, a stronger undercarriage and reinforced centre fuselage to cope with the higher weight, and some modifications to the wing, including changes to the trailing edge flaps to a double slotted design and other trailing edge changes to increase the wing area so that it mirrors the performance characteristics of the A320 wing.

Airbus A321neo of British Airways, with the standard sharklets and larger engines of the A321neo. (Nigel Richardson)

Following on from the A320neo was the A321neo, which made its maiden flight in February 2016 and was delivered to the launch customer in May 2017. Modifications to this variant are similar to those of the A320neo, together with a new rear section and a modified passenger door configuration involving removal of the door located forward of the wing and the introduction of new over-wing emergency exits. There are two sub-variants of the A321neo: the A321LR (Long Range) and the A321XLR (Extra Long Range). The A321LR is designed to fly longer distances with a higher capacity (4,000 nm with 206 passengers in a two-class configuration or 240 passengers in a single class configuration). These improvements in performance have been achieved by adding another centre fuel tank, and through minor structural changes to the wing and fuselage.

The second prototype of the Airbus A321XLR. (Airbus)

The A321XLR was launched at the Paris Airshow in 2019, and is expected to enter service in 2024. Whilst retaining commonality with the A321LR and the rest of the A320neo family, this aircraft will offer ranges of up to 4,700 nm and carry a greater payload. Specific modifications include a new, permanent rear centre fuel tank for more fuel volume, modified landing gear to support the increased take-off weight, and revisions to the trailing-edge flap configuration on the wings to preserve the same take-off performance as the A321neo.

Identification tips

Airbus A321-200ceo of British Airways. Distinguishing features of the A321ceo include four cabin doors equally spaced along the fuselage, with two in front of the wing and two behind and the wingtip fences. (Nigel Richardson)

A distinguishing feature of the A321ceo includes four cabin doors equally spaced along the fuselage, with two in front of the wing and two behind. On the A321neo there are two possibilities: either three cabin doors (one in front of the wing and two behind) and two over-wing emergency exits; or four cabin doors equally spaced along the fuselage. The main visible differences between the A321ceo and A321neo are the larger engines of the A321neo, with short extensions above and below the exhaust nozzle which are absent from the A321ceo engines; and the A321ceo has wingtip fences compared with the sharklets as a standard feature on the A321neo, although sharklets were introduced as an option on more recent build A321ceo aircraft, and retrofitted on some earlier-build aircraft.

Airbus A319  

Airbus A319-100ceo of easyJet. This A319 has two emergency exits over the wing due to the high density seating configuration used by easyJet. (Nigel Richardson)

The third variant is the A319ceo, which made its first flight in August 1995. It is the most popular of the Airbus A320 family in terms of the range of airlines which operate it, with 1,486 orders as of October 2021. The aircraft is 12ft 3ins shorter than the A320, achieved by the removal of seven fuselage frames (four forward of the wing and three aft) leading to a reduction in the number of overwing emergency exits from four to two compared with the A320, but it has an identical wing form and, in most other respects, it is identical, with 95% commonality with the other A320 family members, although its construction uses a greater proportion of composite materials than the A320.

The A319neo was the last of the A320neo family variants to make its maiden flight in March 2017. Although it has 95% commonality with the other variants, it has a shorter fuselage and can seat up to 160 passengers or 150 in two classes, with a range up to 3700nm. Uptake of the A319neo by airlines has been the slowest of all the A320neo family variants, with only 91 orders by January 2023. This is partly due to competition from the Airbus A220, which carries a similar number of passengers and, although its range is slightly shorter, it is cheaper to purchase.

Identification tips

Airbus A319-100ceo of TAP Air Portugal. Note the two cabin doors, one above the nose wheel and the other near the vertical stabiliser, and one emergency exit over the wing. This aircraft also has wingtip fences. (Nigel Richardson)

Key characteristics of the A319ceo are: two cabin doors on each side of the fuselage (one above the nose wheel and the other near the vertical stabiliser) and one emergency exit over the wing (for some operators that use high density seating such as Easyjet, there are two emergency exits over the wing); and wingtip fences (although sharklets were an option on more recent build A319ceos). Key characteristics of the A319neo include sharklets on the wing tips and larger engines with short extensions above and below the exhaust nozzle.

Airbus A318

Airbus A318-100 of Air France. Distinguishing features compared with other members of the A320 family include the short fuselage length and a tall vertical stabiliser. (Alec Wilson, distributed under a CC BY-SA 2.0 Licence)

The A318 is the smallest variant of the A320 family. The fuselage is 7ft 11ins shorter than the A319 and it has a taller vertical stabiliser to compensate for the aerodynamic effects of a shorter fuselage, making it 30 inches taller than an A320. The A318 first flew in January 2002 and entered revenue service in 2003. However, the development of the A318 was significantly impacted by the consequences of 9/11 and the subsequent fall in demand for new airliners. Also, there were problems of excessive fuel consumption by the Pratt &Whitney PW6000 turbofan engines, which led to A318 customers switching orders to the A319 and A320 before a solution was found.

Identification tips

Airbus A318-100 of Tarom. (Peter Bakema, distributed under a GFDL 1.2 Licence)

Key characteristics of the A318 include its short length, a vertical stabiliser which is taller than all other members of the A320 family and a single over-wing emergency exit.

In summary, the A320 family has proved to be a highly successful range of narrow body, single aisle airliners. The different variants provide operators with versatility in terms of capacity, payload and range, with the most recent ‘neo’ models adding environmental-friendly as an attribute, with significant reductions in fuel burn and gaseous emissions.

Flying Firsts

Flying Firsts is a new book from Martyn Cartledge. It covers the introduction to flight of hundreds of aircraft type and variants, including the A320 family, with colour photographs, stats, facts and easy references.

You can order the book now at this link: https://destinworld.com/product/flying-firsts/