What is so special about Airbus A320?

Airbus's original A320 was revolutionary for many reasons, including but not limited to side-stick flight controls, a fly-by-wire system, and cargo capabilities. Since then, the family has grown to include the A318, A319, and A321, and of course, has evolved into the A320neo family.



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As the first civil aircraft to introduce fly-by-wire technology, the A320 Family has set the standards ever since its entry in service. The A320 Family's cockpit “front office” shares commonality with the other Airbus fly-by-wire aircraft.

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Compared with the competing single-aisle aircraft typically configured with 3-3 seating, the Boeing 737, the Airbus offers about one more inch per seat. Additionally, the A320 windows sit higher on the fuselage, which many people feel provides a more comfortable viewing.

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The A320 was launched in March 1984, first flew on 22 February 1987, and was introduced in April 1988 by Air France. The first member of the family was followed by the longer A321 (first delivered in January 1994), the shorter A319 (April 1996), and the even shorter A318 (July 2003).

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Airbus A380 It is an aviation safety-focused aircraft that has never experienced a fatal crash. It has experienced 3 accidents and all of them were about engine problems that were put under control. In spite of the accidents, it has maintained its reputation as one of the safest commercial aircrafts to travel in.

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But if we just compare the 737 NG with the A320, this advantage is reversed, and still the A320 comes out slightly ahead. But thankfully, there are very few accidents for each type per year, so the statistical base is too low for a meaningful comparison.

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Boeing aircraft often incorporate more tactile feedback and manual controls in their cockpit systems, which appeal to pilots who prefer a traditional flying experience. Airbus planes emphasize automation and computerized systems, reducing pilot workload but offering less hands-on control.

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Airbus estimates that their A320 series aircraft have a lifespan of around 60,000 flight hours or 24,000 flight cycles. The A380 series aircraft have a lifespan of around 25 years or 60,000 flight hours.

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The final Airbus A320ceo jets were delivered in 2017 and, while some are still in circulation, Airbus stopped manufacturing the A320ceos shortly before. In total, there were nearly 5,000 Airbus A320ceo jets delivered between 1994–2017. The Airbus A320ceo has two variants, the Airbus A320-100 and Airbus A320-200.

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However, the Anglo-French Concorde with 11.36 percent fatal crashes per million departures has appeared on top of the 'least safe plane' lists. The aircraft ended operations in 2003. Boeing 707/720 with 4.28 percent per million departures has been deemed as second 'least safe planes'.

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A320`s can actually travel just under 4000 nautical miles with no payload and the maximum fuel load on board. So crossings can be made non stop on delivery flights.

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As of October 2023, a total of 17,907 A320 family aircraft had been ordered and 11,134 delivered, of which 10,422 aircraft were in service with more than 340 operators. The global A320 fleet had completed more than 167 million flights over 307 million block hours since its entry into service.

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With more efficient turbofans and improvements including sharklets, it offers up to 15% better fuel economy. Earlier A320s are now called A320ceo (current engine option). American Airlines is the largest A320 operator with 469 aircraft in its fleet.

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