European and US authorities have granted type certification to the Airbus A320neo powered by CFM International Leap-1A engines.
The approval from the European Aviation Safety Agency and the US FAA enables Airbus to start delivering the Leap-powered variant from mid-2016, says the airframer.
Airbus, which had been hinting during a briefing in Hamburg that approval was imminent, says it secured the clearance on 31 May.
Certification follows previous approval for the rival Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-powered A320neo, deliveries of which have been held up by technical snags with the powerplant.
Two Leap-powered A320neos have logged 350 flights comprising some 1,000h during the certification campaign.
Speaking during the Hamburg briefing, Airbus chief executive Fabrice Bregier confirmed the dual certification, adding that the airframer would “look forward” to the variant’s entry into service.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
