Airbus to bring forward launch of new A320neo

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Airbus to bring forward launch of new A320neo

The Airbus A320neo (New Engine Option) aims to extend the life of the manufacturer's bestselling model while it works on a successor.

The Airbus A320neo (New Engine Option) aims to extend the life of the manufacturer's bestselling model while it works on a successor.

European aircraft makers Airbus has brought forward the entry into service of the A320neo, its upgraded medium-haul workhorse with new engines, from 2016 to late 2015, it said yesterday.

"The date of the first operation by airlines has been advanced from 2016 to October 2015," a spokesman said.

"Together with our engine partners, Pratt & Whitney and CFMI (CFM International), we're making every possible effort to bring the first A320neo aircraft into service for our customers as quickly as possible," Airbus commercial director John Leahey said a statement.

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They were pushing forward the delivery date after having received more than 300 orders for the A320neo, he added.

Airbus launched the A320neo project last December to upgrade the plane and especially offer more fuel-efficient engines.

With its new engines and special "sharklet" wing-tip devices for greater fuel efficiency, the company says it can cut fuel consumption by 15 percent -- or up to 3,600 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year, per plane.

The aircraft maker estimated in December that the market for this model of the plane would come to 4000 over the next 15 years.

Airlines have the option of using either the US Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1100G engine or the LEAP-X produced by CFM International.

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CFMI is a joint venture by France's Snecma, part of the Safran group, and US giant General Electric.

So far, customers have favoured Pratt and Whitney, chosen by India's IndiGo Airlines, US airline leasing giant ILFC and Germany's Lufthansa.

Airbus said that the industrial development phase of the aircraft would be done with that engine but stressed that it had faith in both versions.

"There has always been a first engine," spokesman Martin Fendt told AFP.

"History shows that any engine can be successful whether or not it was the lead," he added.

"It's early days and we are confident that both Leap X and the PW1000G will provide the A320 Neo operators with a new step change in fuel efficiency and operating economics."

Airbus has stolen a march on its main rival, US giant Boeing, which had similar plans for its B737, the A320's direct competitor.

Boeing may yet decide to launch an entirely new medium-haul aircraft but that would require an investment of billions of dollars.

Airbus preferred to rework its existing A320 on the grounds that while they would not have the technology for a completely new model until 2025, rising oil prices meant that need for more fuel-efficient aircraft was more pressing.

AFP

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