Lufthansa purchases 30 A320neo Family aircraft

Fuel-efficient new aircraft will fit seamlessly into Lufthansa’s fleet and strategy

Lufthansa has placed a firm order for 30 Airbus A320neo Family aircraft. This contract follows the selection by the Lufthansa Supervisory Board of the A320neo Family in March this year. The order comprises 25 A320neo and five A321neo aircraft. These will be powered by new-generation Pratt & Whitney PW1100G turbofan engines. With this latest order the Lufthansa Group, Airbus’ biggest airline customer, will have purchased a combined total of 443 Airbus aircraft. 

The A320neo Family also incorporates large "Sharklet" wing tip devices, which together with the new more efficient engines, will deliver up to 15 percent in fuel savings. This will represent some 3,600 tonnes less CO2 per aircraft, per year. In addition, the A320neo will provide a double-digit reduction in NOx emissions and reduced engine noise, thus being a good neighbour at any airport where Lufthansa is operating the aircraft.

“We are proud that Lufthansa has chosen the eco-efficient A320neo Family as its solution for sustainable growth, and one which will fit seamlessly into its existing Airbus A320 fleet,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “Since its launch in December last year, around 1,200 orders and commitments for the ‘neo’ have given it the fastest rate of sales ever for any commercial aircraft.”

Today the Lufthansa Group is Airbus’ biggest operator worldwide with more than 360 Airbus aircraft currently in service. These include: 254 A320 Family; 38 A330s; 65 A340s; and eight A380s. With this latest order for 30 aircraft, the Lufthansa Group has an order backlog which includes 85 A320 Family aircraft, eight A330s, and seven A380s. 

The A320 Family (A318, A319, A320 and A321) is recognised as the benchmark single-aisle aircraft family. Over 7,500 Airbus A320 Family aircraft have been ordered and more than 4,700 delivered to more than 330 customers and operators worldwide. The A320neo Family will have over 95 percent airframe commonality with the existing models making it an easy fit into today’s fleets while offering up to 500 nautical miles more range or two tonnes more payload at a given range.