The world's first Airbus A319neo just took its maiden flight, but the jet has already been losing out to the planemaker's more popular A220
China Southern Airlines A319neo delivery.Airbus
- The world's first Airbus A319neo just took its maiden flight with China Southern Airlines on Tuesday.
- The jet has lagged behind the planemaker's other narrowbodies, particularly due to the success of the similar A220-300.
Airbus' best-selling A320 narrowbody entered the market in 1984 to compete with Boeing's popular 737 jets that were dominating the industry.
First A320. Associated Press
The plane gained popularity quickly, becoming a workhorse for airlines worldwide. The success prompted Airbus to manufacture additional variants, including the stretched A321 and the shorter A319 and A318 models.
Alitalia Airbus A319. Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock
Source: Insider
Over the decades, the industry has worked towards creating more fuel-efficient aircraft to lower costs for airlines and reduce CO2 emissions.
Airplane flying over trees. Gergitek Gergi tavan/Shutterstock
Source: Insider
While some manufacturers made complex changes to their narrowbodies to meet demand, like Boeing's 737 MAX, Airbus' solution was to fit its current models with an upgraded engine.
A Ryanair Boeing 737 MAX. Croatorum / Shutterstock.com
Source: Airbus
The program is known as NEO, or "new engine option," and helped the planemaker maintain its narrowbodies as the world's "most advanced and fuel-efficient single-aisle aircraft family."
Airbus A320. Airbus
Source: Airbus
Airbus has three NEO versions in its fleet, including the A319neo, the A320neo, and the A321neo. These aircraft are successors to the company's original A320 family variants, now known as "CEO," or current engine option.
A VivaAerobus Airbus A320neo. AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
Source: Airbus
The two engine choices available to customers include Pratt & Whitney's PurePower PW1100G-JM geared turbofan…
Pratt & Whitney's PW1100G-JM Engine. Pratt & Whitney
Source: Airbus
Two of the upgraded planes have done well in the market, with the A320neo and A321neo racking up 3,752 and 4,037 orders as of December 2021, respectively.
JetBlue A321neo. Business Wire
Source: Airbus
However, the A319neo, which is the smallest model, has significantly underperformed, despite the original A319 being a big success with 1,488 orders as of November 2021.
A319neo. Airbus
Source: Airbus
The A319neo took its maiden flight in 2017 and was ready to enter service in the first half of 2019. However, the plane has only accrued 70 orders to date.
A319neo. Airbus
Source: Airbus
This is due to the rise in popularity of the planemaker's A220-300 plane, which first entered commercial service in 2016.
Airbus A220 Airbus
Several airlines worldwide have ordered the massively successful jet that has garnered over 600 orders to date, like Delta Air Lines…
Delta A220. Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider
…Breeze Airways…
Breeze Airways A220-300 aircraft. Breeze Airways/Business Wire
…and AirBaltic.
AirBaltic A220. Karolis Kavolelis/Shutterstock
The A319neo's similarity to the A220 is its biggest downfall. Specifically, both jets cater to regional and short-haul markets and have comparable designs.
A319neo. Airbus
In terms of capacity, both can carry up to 160 passengers in a multi-class configuration.
AirBaltic A220 cabin. Karlis Dambrans/Shutterstock
As far as range, the A319neo can fly up to 6,850 kilometers (4,256 miles), while the A220 is close behind with a maximum range of 6,297 kilometers (3,912 miles).
Flying on a JetBlue Airways Airbus A220-300. Thomas Pallini/Insider
Despite the similarities, the A220 has pulled ahead of the A319neo with its comfortable cabin, impressive efficiency and capacity, and overall lower operating costs.
Flying on a JetBlue Airways Airbus A220-300. Thomas Pallini/Insider
Source: Airbus
However, there are still going to be rare glimpses of A319neos flying the skies.
Airbus flight crew standing in from of an A319neo. Airbus
On Tuesday, the world's first A319neo flew its maiden passenger flight with China Southern Airlines from Guangzhou to Chengdu.
China Southern's first A319neo flight. FATIII Aviation
Source: FATIII Aviation
China Southern received both of its A319neos in a double delivery in February, making it the first operator of the jet.
China Southern Airlines A319neo. Airbus
Source: China Southern Airlines, FATIII Aviation
According to FATIII Aviation, a Chinese content creator who was on the first flight, the airline's plane features a three-cabin layout with 136 seats, including first class, premium economy, and regular economy.
Onboard the first A319neo passenger flight. FATIII Aviation
Source: FATIII Aviation
Only two other carriers have ordered the passenger jet, including Spirit Airlines...
Spirit Airlines A319ceo aircraft. Marcus Mainka/Shutterstock
Source: Airport Spotting, Spirit Airlines
...and Air Côte d'Ivoire, the flag carrier of Ivory Coast, a country in West Africa.
Air Côte d'Ivoire A320neo. Airbus
Source: Airport Spotting
The A319neo may have just entered commercial service, but it has also proven useful for Airbus' sustainability programs.
A319neo SAF flight. Airbus
Source: Airbus
In October 2021, a CFM LEAP-1A-powered A319neo took off over Toulouse, France, using 100% sustainable aviation fuel. The flight was "the first in-flight study of a single-aisle aircraft running on unblended SAF."
Fueling the A319neo for its SAF flight. Airbus
Source: Airbus
The project will help Airbus collect data on how 100% SAF performs on the ground and in-flight. For the specific test flight, only one engine was run with full SAF, though the planemaker expects to fly the jet with both engines using 100% biofuel in 2022.
Fueling the A319neo for its SAF flight. Airbus
Source: Airbus
The news came just a month before United Airlines flew the first-ever passenger flight using 100% SAF supplied by World Energy, North America's only commercial biofuel producer.
United Airlines is the first airline in the world to use 100% SAF on a passenger flight. United Airlines
READ MORE ARTICLES ON
Popular Right Now
Advertisement