Airbus will not be delivering its first A320neo this year, after the airframer and initial delivery customer Lufthansa opted to delay its introduction.
The airframer had been striving to meet a fourth-quarter 2015 delivery target but, despite maintaining confidence that it could keep to the schedule, the manufacturer admitted on 30 December that the schedule would slip to 2016.
It has not given a specific introduction date beyond saying that the type would enter service “within the next weeks”.
Airbus says the decision to postpone delivery of the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-powered twinjet was reached “in agreement” with Lufthansa.
It says that all three partners – the airframer, the carrier and the engine manufacturer – will “continue working with all efforts and full focus” to put the type into service.
“To deliver on our priority – for our customers a service-ready A320neo from day one – some more documentation items need to be addressed by Pratt& Whitney and Airbus in its role as the overall manufacturer of the aircraft,” says the airframer.
Airbus points out, however, that the A320neo has already achieved certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency and the US FAA.
Lufthansa had recently edged ahead of long-time launch customer Qatar Airways in the line to take the first A320neo.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
