
| No. Of Engines: |
2 |
| Aircraft Type: |
Jet |
| Passenger Capacity (Max): |
185 |
| Range (in Miles): |
2,700 |
| Takeoff Weight (in Lbs): |
196,200 |
| Cabin Type: |
pressurized |
The
A320 program, launched in March 1984 in anticipation of
the airlines' fleet expansion, marked Airbus Industrie's
entry into the single aisle aircraft market. 1989 marked
the beginning of A321 development, an enlarged version of
the A320, and in 1994 production got underway on A321-200,
a modified version featuring an increased take-off weight
and a longer range, which will enter service in 1997. The
Airbus A319/A320/321 family (the A319 is a smaller version
of the A320) has received more than 1,110 firm orders from
54 different customers. Major operators of the A321 presently
include Lufthansa, Alitalia, Air Inter, Air Macau, Austrian
Airlines, Swissair and TransAsia Airways.
Airbus
Industrie was formed in 1970 as a multinational effort between
Germany, England and France to create a high-capacity twin-jet
transport (this developed into the A300). Today Airbus Industrie
has become the world's second largest manufacturer of civil
airliners which seat over 100 passengers. In it's first
25 years Airbus has sold over 2,100 aircraft, with more
than 1400 in service worldwide. The consortium is headquartered
in southwest France near the city of Toulouse and owned
by Europe's four leading aerospace companies (Aerospatiale
of France, Daimler-Benz Aerospace Airbus of Germany, British
Aerospace, and Casa of Spain).
|