Airbus expects minor mods to keep A320 flying for years | Aviation International News

Airbus expects minor mods to keep A320 flying for years

Despite the fact that final assembly of the 4,000th example is now under way, the A320 single-aisle twinjet may be only at the midpoint of its production l

By Ian Goold • Senior correspondent

June 9, 2009

Despite the fact that final assembly of the 4,000th example is now under way, the A320 single-aisle twinjet may be only at the midpoint of its production life, according to Airbus. Marketing vice president Colin Stuart has suggested that a 5,000th A320 could enter service in 2011. That would be no more than 30 months after MSN4000, an International Aero Engines V2500-powered A319, is delivered to Brazilian operator TAM as scheduled for this July. Stuart even sees the potential for an 8,000th aircraft within 10 years.

Against an initial anticipated market for about 750 aircraft, Airbus had taken orders for more than 6,320 by last month and delivered over 3,850 to 220-plus customers. Last year, the manufacturer took orders for 472 A320-family variants and delivered some 386 examples. In February, it delivered the 500th A321, the largest variant, from more than 750 on order.

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