Successful maiden flight of the new Airbus A320neo
Lufthansa has ordered a total of 115 aircraft from the A320neo family
Following intensive tests the new Airbus aircraft A320neo successfully completed its maiden flight. The plane took off from the Airbus base in Toulouse-Blagnac. The aircraft stand out for their new technology, efficiency and customer comfort, and the Lufthansa Group has ordered a total of 115 of them. They are mainly due to be deployed at Lufthansa and at the Lufthansa Group carrier Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS).
“Congratulations to Airbus on this successful maiden flight. We are delighted that the aircraft passed this test with flying colours. Airbus has now shown that everything is going to plan,” says Nico Buchholz, Executive Vice President Lufthansa Group Fleet Management. Lufthansa is due to take delivery of the first A320neos in 2016.
The Lufthansa Group took a very early decision to purchase aircraft from the A320neo family and so paved the way for the model’s global success. The Lufthansa Supervisory Board approved the purchase of this model back in March 2011. Further orders followed, most recently on 19 September 2014, when 15 more aircraft of this type were ordered for SWISS.
By placing orders for this modern, fuel-efficient and low-noise aircraft, the Lufthansa Group will reduce its unit costs, which constitutes another important step towards maintaining and expanding the market position of the Lufthansa airline group in the years ahead. The A320neo stands out for its improved aerodynamics and new engines. The aircraft use about 15 per cent less fuel than comparable models today. In addition, the noise emissions are a cumulative 10-15 dB below current limits and represent further progress in terms of reducing noise and other emissions compared with today’s fleet.
The Lufthansa Group’s aircraft fleet is currently undergoing a fundamental renewal. After the last order, the Group currently has a total of 265 brand new aircraft with a list price of €30 billion on its order list as of 1 September 2014. These should be delivered by 2025.
