From the first A320 to the A321XLR, 1987–2026
How a fly-by-wire single-aisle from the 1980s got new engines, new wingtips and a long-range stretch.
The original A320
The first A320 made its maiden flight on 22 February 1987 from Toulouse-Blagnac, France. It lasted 3 hours and 23 minutes. Airbus newsroom: 30 years young… and still going strong (22 Feb 2017) Airbus says the A320 brought the first use of digital, computerised fly-by-wire controls on a civil airliner, and a wider fuselage cross-section for roomier seats and a wider aisle. Airbus newsroom: 30 years young… and still going strong (22 Feb 2017)
With fly-by-wire, the control surfaces are linked to computers rather than cables and pulleys, and the pilot’s control column was replaced by a sidestick. Airbus newsroom: Airbus jetliners, a standard-setting history (Jun 2018) Airbus says fly-by-wire commonality lets pilots fly aircraft of different sizes in the same way, cutting training time and cost. Airbus newsroom: Airbus jetliners, a standard-setting history (Jun 2018)
The A320 was first delivered in 1988. Airbus: A320 Family, the most delivered aircraft ever · checked 29 Oct 2026 Airbus describes the classic family as one aircraft in four sizes: the A318, A319, A320 and A321. Airbus newsroom: Airbus jetliners, a standard-setting history (Jun 2018)
The No. 1 A320 was flown by 110 different Airbus test pilots and was used to evaluate 29 different jet engines in flight, before retiring in 2016. Airbus newsroom: 30 years young… and still going strong (22 Feb 2017)
One family, one type rating
Pilots can fly the A318, A319, A320 and A321 on a single type rating, because the cockpits and procedures are identical. Airbus: A320 Family, the most delivered aircraft ever · checked 29 Oct 2026 In February 2017, on the 30th anniversary of the first flight, Airbus counted more than 13,000 A320 Family orders and more than 7,400 deliveries, with one coming off a final assembly line every seven hours. Airbus newsroom: 30 years young… and still going strong (22 Feb 2017)
Sharklets come first
Airbus has offered Sharklets on new-build A320 Family aircraft since December 2012, and all neo family members have them as standard. Airbus press release: Airbus launches Sharklet retrofit for in-service A320 Family aircraft (Oct 2013) EASA dates the first Sharklet approval for the A320 (modification 160500) to 30 November 2012. EASA: Type-Certificate Data Sheet EASA.A.064, Airbus A318, A319, A320, A321, Issue 62, 26 June 2026 (PDF)
In October 2013 Airbus launched a Sharklet retrofit for in-service aircraft, available from 2015, saying it cut fuel burn by up to 4% and added up to 100 nm of range. Airbus press release: Airbus launches Sharklet retrofit for in-service A320 Family aircraft (Oct 2013) In October 2013 Airbus counted over 9,900 A320 Family aircraft ordered and over 5,700 delivered. Airbus press release: Airbus launches Sharklet retrofit for in-service A320 Family aircraft (Oct 2013)
A new engine option
‘neo’ stands for New Engine Option. The A320neo arrived in 2010 with new engines, Sharklet wingtip devices and upgraded cabins. Airbus: A320 Family, the most delivered aircraft ever · checked 29 Oct 2026 Airbus now calls the earlier versions the A320ceo, for Current Engine Option. Airbus newsroom: Winglets, a tip-top solution for more efficient aircraft (Feb 2017)
The A320neo Family was launched on 1 December 2010. Airbus press release: A320neo with CFM LEAP-1A engines receives joint EASA and FAA Type Certification (May 2016) At first the neo family was one aircraft in three sizes (A319neo, A320neo and A321neo), seating 100 to 240 passengers on routes of up to 4,000 nm. Airbus press release: A320neo with CFM LEAP-1A engines receives joint EASA and FAA Type Certification (May 2016)
24 November 2015: certified
EASA type-certificated the A320neo on 24 November 2015, with Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-JM engines. The FAA certificated it at the same time. EASA news: EASA certifies Airbus A320neo (24 Nov 2015) EASA dates for the A320neo: A320-271N (Pratt & Whitney) 24 November 2015; A320-251N (CFM LEAP) 31 May 2016. EASA: Type-Certificate Data Sheet EASA.A.064, Airbus A318, A319, A320, A321, Issue 62, 26 June 2026 (PDF)
The second engine option, CFM International’s LEAP-1A, was certificated by EASA and the FAA on 31 May 2016, six months after the Pratt & Whitney version. Airbus press release: A320neo with CFM LEAP-1A engines receives joint EASA and FAA Type Certification (May 2016) By then the two LEAP-powered test aircraft had flown over 1,000 hours in more than 350 flights. Airbus said the whole neo development fleet would reach 3,000 flight hours. Airbus press release: A320neo with CFM LEAP-1A engines receives joint EASA and FAA Type Certification (May 2016)
In May 2016 Airbus counted more than 4,500 neo orders from over 82 customers. Airbus press release: A320neo with CFM LEAP-1A engines receives joint EASA and FAA Type Certification (May 2016)
20 January 2016: first delivery
The first A320neo was delivered on 20 January 2016. Airbus press release: A320neo with CFM LEAP-1A engines receives joint EASA and FAA Type Certification (May 2016) Lufthansa was the launch customer, and its first A320neo had Pratt & Whitney PurePower geared turbofan engines. Airbus said the neo would burn 15% less fuel than the aircraft it replaced from day one, and 20% less by 2020. Airbus press release: First A320neo delivery opens new era in commercial aviation (Jan 2016)
In January 2016 Airbus counted almost 4,500 neo orders from nearly 80 customers since the 2010 launch. Airbus press release: First A320neo delivery opens new era in commercial aviation (Jan 2016)
Bigger and smaller
EASA dates: A321neo with Pratt & Whitney engines 15 December 2016; with CFM engines 1 March 2017. EASA: Type-Certificate Data Sheet EASA.A.064, Airbus A318, A319, A320, A321, Issue 62, 26 June 2026 (PDF) The first A321neo, with CFM LEAP-1A engines, was delivered on 20 April 2017 at a ceremony in Hamburg, Germany. Airbus press release: Airbus delivers first ever A321neo (20 Apr 2017)
In April 2017 Airbus called the A321neo the largest member of the neo family, with over 1,300 on order. Airbus press release: Airbus delivers first ever A321neo (20 Apr 2017)
EASA dates for the A319neo: CFM LEAP version 14 December 2018; Pratt & Whitney version 29 November 2019. EASA: Type-Certificate Data Sheet EASA.A.064, Airbus A318, A319, A320, A321, Issue 62, 26 June 2026 (PDF)
The A321XLR
The first A321XLR flew in June 2022, followed by a test programme with three test aircraft. Airbus press release: Airbus A321XLR receives EASA type certification (19 Jul 2024) Airbus announced EASA type certification of the A321XLR with CFM LEAP-1A engines in a release dated 19 July 2024. Airbus press release: Airbus A321XLR receives EASA type certification (19 Jul 2024)
EASA’s data sheet dates the A321XLR certifications as 18 July 2024 (CFM, A321-253NY) and 20 February 2025 (Pratt & Whitney, A321-271NY). EASA: Type-Certificate Data Sheet EASA.A.064, Airbus A318, A319, A320, A321, Issue 62, 26 June 2026 (PDF) The first A321XLR was delivered in Hamburg on 30 October 2024, with CFM LEAP-1A engines. Airbus press release: Airbus delivers first A321XLR (30 Oct 2024)
In 2024 Airbus said more than 500 A321XLRs had been ordered. Airbus press release: Airbus A321XLR receives EASA type certification (19 Jul 2024)
Airbus’s release and EASA’s data sheet are a day apart on the XLR’s certification. More on when sources disagree.
Where it stands now
Airbus’s order book at the end of September 2026: 20,435 A320 Family orders, 12,900 delivered and 11,374 in the fleet. These are totals for the whole A320 Family, ceo and neo together. Airbus: Orders and deliveries (figures valid at the end of September 2026) · checked 29 Oct 2026
In the first nine months of 2026 Airbus delivered 547 commercial aircraft, 428 of them from the A320 Family. Airbus press release: Airbus reports Nine-Month (9m) 2026 results (28 Oct 2026, PDF) · checked 29 Oct 2026 On 28 October 2026 Airbus said it expects to reach an A320 Family production rate of 70 to 75 a month by the end of 2027, settling at 75. Airbus press release: Airbus reports Nine-Month (9m) 2026 results (28 Oct 2026, PDF) · checked 29 Oct 2026
The family is built on 10 final assembly lines and at more than 20 sites; in 2025 Airbus opened new lines in Mobile, Alabama and Tianjin, China. Airbus: A320 Family, the most delivered aircraft ever · checked 29 Oct 2026
Next: the family →