American Airlines today took delivery of its first A320 Family aircraft at a special ceremony at Airbus facilities in Hamburg, Germany. Teams from American Airlines, Airbus and CFM International celebrated the first of 260 Airbus single-aisles the airline has selected to fly it into the future. American’s A319s will seat 128 passengers in a two-class configuration, and will be used initially on the airline’s domestic route network, and then into Central America this fall. The aircraft are powered by two CFM56 engines.

In addition to the delivery being a notable first for American Airlines, this aircraft is the very first A319 to feature Sharklets – lightweight composite wingtip devices that offer up to 4 percent fuel burn savings, providing the flexibility of either adding 110 nautical miles range or increased payload capability of over 1100 pounds (up to 500 kilograms). The American A319 is also the 100th A320 Family aircraft produced with Sharklets. Sharklets are an option on all new-build A320 Family aircraft, and will be standard equipment on all members of the A320neo Family.

"Everything about the new A319 aircraft has been designed with the customer at the center," said Virasb Vahidi, American Airlines chief commercial officer.  "The introduction of the A319 is another important step in building a strong foundation for the new American. We're pleased to be partnering with Airbus."

“It’s our great pleasure to welcome back American Airlines to the Airbus family,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer – Customers. “With its introduction of the A320 Family, the airline is demonstrating its confidence in a single-aisle product that has proven to be a game-changer for airlines around the world. American is undertaking a major strategic evolution and we are pleased to watch the A320 Family becoming an integral part of the airline’s future success.”

The A320 Family is the world’s best-selling and most modern single aisle aircraft Family. To date, over 9,600 aircraft have been ordered and over 5,600 delivered to more than 380 customers and operators worldwide. With proven reliability and extended servicing periods, the A320 Family has the lowest operating costs of any single-aisle aircraft.


Airbus Press Release

China’s largest operator of Airbus aircraft, China Eastern Airlines, has taken delivery of its first A320 aircraft equipped with Sharklet fuel saving wing-tip devices, becoming China’s first carrier to do so. The aircraft is also the first Sharklets equipped A320 assembled and delivered in Tianjin.

 The A320, powered by IAE V2500 engines, features a comfortable two class cabin, seating 158 passengers with eight in business class and 150 in economy. The A320 will make its first commercial flight from Shanghai to Dalian on May 18.

 “As the first and biggest Airbus customer in China, China Eastern and Airbus have long-term good cooperation. China Eastern is honored to be the first customer of A320 with sharklets in China. In the near future, China Eastern will further expand our sharklet equipped A320 family fleet”, said Shu Mingjiang, Vice President Flight Operations, China Eastern.



 “We are delighted that China Eastern Airlines has taken delivery of its first Sharklet equipped A320. It is a mark of our close ties that the biggest Airbus fleet operator in China is also the first Chinese carrier to benefit from  up to four per cent reduction in fuel costs”, said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers.

Sharklets are made from light-weight composites and are 2.4 meters tall. They are an option on new-build A320 Family aircraft and standard on all members of the new A320neo family. They offer operators up to four per cent fuel burn reduction on longer range sectors and provide the flexibility of either adding an additional 100 nautical miles range or increased payload capability of up to 450 kilograms.

 China Eastern is one of the largest airlines in China and is the first Chinese airline operating Airbus aircraft in 1985. Now it operates an Airbus fleet of over 230 aircraft including A300s, A319s, A320s, A321s, A330s and A340s.



 Airbus Tianjin Delivery Centre has delivered 126 aircraft since June 2009 and it plans to deliver 46 aircraft in total in 2013.

The A320 Family is the world’s best-selling and most modern single aisle aircraft Family. To date, over 9,400 aircraft have been ordered and over 5,500 delivered to more than 385 customers and operators worldwide. With proven reliability and extended servicing periods, the A320 Family has the lowest operating costs of any single-aisle aircraft.


Airbus Press Release

We continue with the update about the deliveries of the new A320 family aircraft with sharklets, last week was the turn of Swiss International Airline, that received it's first A320 modified.

While today Airbus announced that Germany's airberlin group took delivery of its first Airbus A320 equipped with fuel saving wing tip devices, called Sharklets. The aircraft will join the fleet of the Austrian based airline NIKI, which is owned by the airberlin group. Between now and 2015 the airberlin group, Germany’s second biggest airline, will receive 13 more A320-Family aircraft with Sharklets.

Sharklets are newly designed wing-tip devices, measuring 2,4 metres and replacing the A320’s current wing tip fence. They improve the aircraft’s aerodynamics and significantly cut the airline’s fuel burn and emissions by up to four per cent. Sharklets are an option on new-build A320 Family aircraft, and standard on all members of the NEO Family. They offer the flexibility to A320 Family operators of either adding around 100 nautical miles more range or allowing an increased payload capability of up to 450 kilograms.

As of today, over 9,150 Airbus A320 Family aircraft have been sold worldwide and over 5,450 aircraft delivered to more than 385 customers and operators, making it the world’s best-selling 
commercial jetliner ever.


Airbus Press Release

India’s GoAir, ‘The Fly Smart Airline”, wholly owned by the Wadia Group, has taken delivery of its first Sharklet equipped A320 aircraft financed by ACG (Aviation Capital Group) under a sale and leaseback arrangement which will see the Aircraft added to ACG's growing portfolio of Airbus A320 family aircraft. 

The aircraft is part of an order placed by GoAir for 20 A320ceo in 2006. So far 13 aircraft have been delivered to GoAir making the first Sharklet equipped A320 the 14th to join the fleet. All subsequent seven deliveries will be equipped with Sharklets.

“We already operate one of the youngest and most fuel efficient aircraft fleets anywhere in the world and the introduction of the Sharklet will add further efficiency. Our investment in the every latest technology like Sharklets, and also the A320neo, is a demonstration of our commitment to our customers and to the growth of our valued airline,” said Giorgio De Roni, GoAir CEO

“We are delighted to be partnering GoAir with their fleet expansion and the introduction of the fuel saving Sharklet. We strive to always have the most modern aircraft in our aircraft portfolio and the A320 equipped with Sharklets is a perfect fit,” said Denis Kalscheur, ACG CEO.

“The Sharklets deliver up to four per cent fuel burn reduction on longer sectors, and this translates into impressive cost savings,” said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer – Customers. “GoAir passengers can also be confident that on board their Sharklet equipped A320s, they’ll be flying the world’s greenest single aisle aircraft.”

Due to the very strong customer demand for Sharklets, all Airbus’ single-aisle final assembly lines (FALs) will be engaged in building A320 Family aircraft with Sharklets. These FALs are located in Toulouse (France), Hamburg (Germany) and Tianjin (China) and will soon be followed by an additional A320 FAL in Mobile (Alabama, USA).

Sharklets are an option on new-build A320 Family aircraft and offer operators the option of an additional 100 nautical miles range or increased payload capability of up to 450 kilograms. Sharklets are standard on all members of the A320neo Family. In 2011, GoAir placed an order for 72 A320neo aircraft.

The A320 Family is the world’s best-selling and most modern single aisle aircraft Family. To date, over 9,000 aircraft have been ordered and over 5,400 delivered to more than 380 customers and operators worldwide.