Aircraft
Paris 2011: Long live the A320…
Alongside preparations for the re-engined A320neo, Airbus is continuing http://www.ainonline.com/news/single-news-page/article/airbus-to-boost-a32

Alongside preparations for the re-engined A320neo, Airbus is continuing A320 product development, according to A320 family chief engineer Wolfgang Engler. Some 23 years after A320 MSN0005 pioneered the type’s airline service with Air France, the manufacturer claims a 99.7-percent “operational reliability” for the most recently delivered 250 aircraft. Middle East low-cost carrier Air Arabia’s A320s are said to be achieving almost 14.4 hours of daily utilization with others, including Air Asia, EasyJet, JetBlue Airways and Tiger Airways, logging more than 10 hours per day on individual aircraft.

Maximum takeoff weight for the standard A320-200 has been progressively increased from the initial 162,000 pounds to 172,000 pounds, accompanied by improved engines and aerodynamics. Sharklet-equipped A320s being delivered next year will have higher weights.