A320neo Family Timeline

Dec. 1, 2010

In confirming its plans to upgrade the A320 family with two new engine offerings – from CFM International and Pratt & Whitney – Airbus says it will not just reduce fuel burn, but also lower NOx emissions and noise, while adding up to 500 nm to the range of the A320neo when it enters service in 2016.

April 4, 2011

Lufthansa selects Pratt & Whitney’s PW1100G geared turbofan to power its planned fleet of 30 Airbus A320neos, representing a victory in what Pratt describes as its first major "head-to-head" competition with arch-rival CFM International’s Leap-X.

June 23, 2011

AirAsia’s purchase of 200 A320neos at the 2011 Paris air show is the largest number of Airbus aircraft ever sold.

June 23, 2011

Airbus’s order surge at the Paris air show drives the Airbus A320neo backlog to 1,029 orders and commitments.

Nov. 15, 2011

Qatar Airways orders 50 A320neos. Earlier in the year, the airline's CEO, Akbar al-Baker, criticized Airbus for its decision to launch the A320neo instead of an all-new design.

July 10 , 2012

Airbus ends the conceptual design phase for the Airbus A320neo and the A319neo, freezing the basic definition of the aircraft.

Oct. 26, 2012

Pratt & Whitney expects to start the first test runs of the PW1100G for the Airbus A320neo in November 2012, following its official completion on this day in Florida.

July 1, 2014

Airbus completes assembly of the first A320neo – designated MSN6101 – following the aircraft’s painting and mounting of its Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-JM engines.

Aug. 11, 2014

The first CFM Leap-1As for the A320neo enter production.

Sept. 25, 2014

The A320neo takes flight, marking a significant milestone for Airbus and Pratt & Whitney.