Airbus has completed assembly of its first A320neo after the aircraft was painted in Airbus corporate colours and its Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines were fitted.
Airbus says flight testing of the A320neo will commence in September, ahead of entry into service planned for the fourth quarter of 2015.
The neo – new engine option – is offered with either PW1100G geared turbofans or CFM’s new LEAP-1A engines – which together with ‘Sharklet’ winglets promise a 15 per cent reduction in fuel consumption over the standard equivalent A320 Family aircraft.
Airbus holds “nearly” 2,700 orders for neo aircraft, including 78 currently on order with the Qantas Group for Jetstar (Qantas has announced plans to “restructure” its A320 order book, but has not yet revealed if this effects its neo orders) and 13 for Air New Zealand.
