Lufthansa Becomes Launch Customer of Best-selling A320neo, New Era in Commercial Aviation Opened

From left to right: David Hess, Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer, Aerospace, for United Technologies; Robert Leduc, Pratt & Whitney President; Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG.; Fabrice Brégier, Airbus President and CEO; and Klaus Roewe, Airbus Senior Vice President, Head of A320 Family Programme.

The Lufthansa Group, Airbus’ largest airline customer and operator, marked a major step in aviation history on Wednesday, January 20, by taking delivery of the first A320neo, the world’s best-selling and most fuel efficient single aisle aircraft.

“This occasion marks a new step forward to delivering on our promises and meeting our industry’s goal for sustainable aviation”, said Fabrice Brégier, Airbus President and CEO.

Equipped with all new technology Pratt & Whitney PurePower Geared Turbofan engines, the A320neo sets a new, even higher standard in aircraft efficiency, reducing emissions and noise as well as burning 15 percent less fuel than current generation aircraft from day one and 20 percent less by 2020.

“Today we prove once again that as an aviation company and airline group we are pioneers in the development and introduction of technical innovations”, said Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG. “In this year alone the Lufthansa Group will receive a total of 52 new aircraft, a number we have not received in year.”

Lufthansa has ordered a total of 116 aircraft of this type for the airlines of the Group.

The A320neo Family incorporates the very latest technologies including new generation engines and Sharklet wing tip devices. With almost 4,500 orders received from nearly 80 customers since its launch in 2010, the A320neo Family has captured some 60 percent share of the market.

According to reports, Lufthansa’s new aircraft is expected to enter service between Frankfurt and Hamburg on January 24. It will also be deployed on the Hamburg-Munich route.