Boeing Publicly Dismissive Of The Move

While stopping short of calling it a "re-engining" of its single-aisle A320, Airbus has decided to offer new engines as an option for the aircraft, the  planemaker announced Wednesday.  Airlines have the choice between CFM International’s LEAP-X engine and Pratt & Whitney’s PurePower PW1100G engine. Known as the A320neo, this new engine option also incorporates large wing tip devices called Sharklets. Airbus plans to start deliveries of the A320neo Family in spring 2016.

Airbus Computer Rendering A320neo With "Sharklets"

Airbus says the A320neo will deliver fuel savings of up to 15 percent, which represents up to 3,600 tonnes of CO2 savings annually per aircraft. In addition, the company says the A320neo will produce significantly lower NOx emissions. Airbus also claims reduced engine noise, lower operating costs and up to 500nm more range or just over two tons more payload.

“We are confident that the A320neo will be a great success across all markets and with all types of operators, offering them maximum benefit with minimum change. We are leveraging a reliable, mature aircraft and are making it even more efficient and environmentally friendly,” said Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO. Airbus plans to spend just over a billion Euros on the project.

Over the past months, Airbus says it has taken the time to carefully assess and weigh up the benefits of the A320neo business case with the allocation of the engineering resources needed while at the same time securing the engineering skills required on other Airbus aircraft programs.

"Finding the necessary resources for the A320neo wasn't exactly a walk in the park,” Enders added. “The enabler was to devise a stringent phasing of critical engineering assets throughout our various development programmes and to optimise the management and organisation of all our programmes and R&T projects. Our international engineering centres, suppliers and partners play a big role in this.”   

The A320neo announcement follows the approval given by the Board of Directors of EADS, Airbus’ shareholder company.

The new engine option is offered on the A321, A320 and A319 models which will require limited modifications, primarily to the wing and pylon areas. The A320neo will have over 95 percent airframe commonality with the standard A320 Family.

For its part, Boeing said that Airbus was simply trying to keep up with the Next-Generation B737. Reuters reports that a spokesman said that the 737 is "significantly more fuel-efficient than the A320," and that improvements are being made on an ongoing basis. He also said Boeing offers airlines the option of a new engine on the 737NG, or an "all-new airplane option."

FMI: www.airbus.com, www.boeing.com