Article from BTNews 24 APRIL 2017
First A321neo handed over
The first-ever A321neo, the latest generation powered by CFM International’s LEAP-1A engines, was handed over to Virgin America, an all-Airbus operator, at a ceremony in Hamburg last week.
Virgin America president Peter Hunt said the airline was honoured to be the first operator of the high in-demand aircraft. “This third member of the Airbus A320 Family to join our fleet will allow us to reduce our unit costs and carbon emissions further,” he added.
Airbus president commercial aircraft Fabrice Brégier said the company was “turning a new page” with its largest, latest, most fuel efficient NEO single aisle aircraft, guaranteeing new levels of efficiency and longer range to its operators.
It also offered greater comfort to the flying public and fewer emissions and less noise to airport communities thanks to cutting-edge technologies making it the most eco-sensitive single aisle aircraft available.
The aircraft with LEAP-1A engines was proven to deliver at least 15% fuel savings compared to Virgin America’s current generation aircraft, equivalent to cutting 5,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions with each plane every year, Brégier added.
Virgin America operates a fleet of 63 Airbus A320 family aircraft comprised of A319ceo and A320ceo aircraft powered by CFM’s CFM56-5B engines.
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