Airbus has delivered the first ever A321neo aircraft built in Toulouse, marking the first fruits of its new production line there.
The line was opened earlier this year in what had been the production halls for the giant A380 aircraft which were built at Toulouse until its production was suspended. The huge space is known as the “Jean-Luc Lagardère” building, named after the French business pioneer.
Now, with the A321neo and its variants, like the neoLR and neoXLR, proving incredibly popular, the manufacturer has chosen to add this new line to keep pace with demand and delivery targets.
Traditionally Airbus built its A321s, and the modern A321neo, at Hamburg Finkenwerder in Germany (alongside the A319), with Toulouse focusing on the A320, A330 and A350 ranges.
In recent years Airbus has also started producing small numbers of A321neos at production centres in Mobile, AL and Tianjin, China, where orders for local carriers in the United States and China respectively are often built.
But with the extra space vacated by the A380 and such a strong order book, it made sense for an additional line to be opened.
The First Aircraft
In a ceremony on 27 December, Airbus rolled out the first A321neo produced in Toulouse ahead of delivery to customer Pegasus Airlines.
The aircraft is TC-RDK (msn 11281) and has already begun flying on the carrier’s extensive low-cost network out of its Istanbul base.
The delivery of the aircraft to Pegasus Airlines marks the start of the ramp-up of the new Toulouse Final Assembly Line, which together with the other A320 Family FALs in Hamburg (Germany), Mobile (USA) and Tianjin (China), will contribute to Airbus’ objective of producing 75 A320 Family aircraft per month in 2026.
Air Belgium’s First Airbus A330neo Livery Spotted In Toulouse
Air Belgium’s first Airbus A330neo wearing the carrier’s white, red, yellow, and black livery has been spotted at Airbus’ Toulouse headquarters. The aircraft is expected to be delivered to the Brussels-based carrier later this month and is one of two white tail Airbus A330neos procured by the airline.
Air Belgium’s first Airbus A330neo has now received its full livery. Photo: Airbus
Having hinted at the majestic nature of OO-ABG’s paint scheme last week, it was time to show it off to the world today. This morning, Airbus shared four images of the jet emerging from the paint shop. Previously the aircraft had only been seen in the open in primer, with only its engines fully painted.
Interestingly, unlike most new planes, this isn’t the first livery worn by this particular aircraft. The aircraft ended up as a white tail after Rwandair pulled the plug on its A330neo ambitions. The aircraft had already received the Rwandair livery at this point, so it had to be stripped before the new livery was applied. Air Belgium’s purchase contributed to Airbus having no white tail aircraft left on its books.
According to data from ch-avition.com, the aircraft is only 0.06 years old, having first flown on July 21st. Its confirmed delivery date is listed as August 2021, meaning that it should be delivered in the next 20 days. Once the aircraft arrives at the carrier, pilots will likely undergo training before it is scheduled to enter service flying to Mauritius from October 15th.
The plane is expected to be delivered by the end of the month. Photo: Airbus
The second aircraft due to be delivered is OO-ABF. This plane is 2.44 years old as it first flew in March 2019. According to ch-aviation.com, it isn’t scheduled to be delivered until December 2021, meaning the airline has a fair few months to get to grips with the type before this plane’s delivery.
Commenting on the first Airbus A330neo set to join the fleet, Niky Terzakis, CEO of Air Belgium, said,
“Air Belgium is very happy and proud to present these new aircraft in Belgium. They are the most modern aircraft that will operate under the Belgian flag… With the A330neos customers will directly benefit from even greater comfort and superior service on board, while reducing our environmental impact by 25%.”
25% Of Airbus’ 2021 Deliveries To Date Came In June
Airbus has today revealed its delivery figures for June 2021. The European aircraft manufacturer made a total of 77 deliveries last month. Notably, this figure represents almost 26% of the company’s deliveries for the whole year so far.
Airbus had an active June, delivering its range of aircraft all across the continents. Photo: Airbus
In total, Airbus made 77 deliveries to 44 customers during the month. Additionally, since the beginning of the year, 297 deliveries were made to 67 customers.
The A320 family leads the pack
The A320neo was the most delivered aircraft, with 30 handovers. China Eastern, Volaris, Spirit, Gulf Air, Frontier Airlines, and Wizz Air were among the takers of the narrowbody. Several lessors also received the type to pass on to other carriers.
The A321neo was the second most delivered model, with 26 arrivals to company facilities. The likes of IndiGo, Peach, MEA, Gulf Air, Cathay Pacific China Eastern, Wizz Air, American Airlines, Lufthansa, China Southern, Juneyao Air, JetBlue took delivery of the plane. Lessors were also busy taking it on.
Airbus had 73 orders in June, but 70 of these were from United Airlines for A321neo aircraft. Photo: Airbus
Widebody action
It wasn’t only narrowbodies that were busy being handed over last month. For instance, several A350s were delivered to airlines. Nine A350-900s were delivered along with two A350-100s. Aeroflot, Air France, Singapore Airlines, Spring Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Air Caraibes, and China Southern were some of those who received the twinjet.
There was a sole A380 delivery in June. It’s no surprise who took this plane on. Emirates received the superjumbo on June 18th.
Overall, during the first half of the year, deliveries have been split into the following.
Emirates’ Penultimate Airbus A380 Flies To The Paint Shop
On Thursday, the penultimate Airbus A380 made its way from the planemaker’s final assembly line in Toulouse to its facilities in Hamburg. Part of Airbus and aviation history, the second-to-last superjumbo ever to be built will now receive its livery in the 42.200 m² A380 dedicated paintshop before joining the Emirates fleet.
Emirates’ penultimate A380 has left Airbus’ facilities in Toulouse. Photo: Vincenzo Pace – Simple Flying
Almost the end for the A380 in Toulouse
As Airbus begins to wrap up production of its superjumbo, two-storied quadjet, Toulouse has started waving goodbye to the last to leave the final assembly facilities. The penultimate A380 to be built was caught on camera as it took off for the manufacturer’s paintshop in Hamburg yesterday morning.
MSN 271 has been registered as A6-EVR, and once she is all-liveried, as is no surprise to anyone who has been following the storyline of the A380, she will head to Dubai and the Emirates fleet.
The second-to-last of its kind to be completed took off from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS) at 11:16 on Thursday, February 11th. After heading towards the Atlantic and making a little roundabout, it made north towards Germany. Following three hours and 52 minutes in the air, it landed at Hamburg Finkenverder Airport (XFW) at 15:09 local time.
What’s in Toulouse and Hamburg?
Airbus has nine final assembly lines (FALs) in five locations. Toulouse houses a FAL for the narrowbody A320 family, a responsibility it shares with Hamburg in Germany, Tianjin in China, and Mobile, Alabama, in the US. The Mobile plant also hosts a FAL for the A220, as do the facilities in Mirabel, Canada.
However, Toulouse is the only location where Airbus completes the construction of its widebodies. As production of the A380 is now coming to an end, this means there will be two remaining twin-aisle FALs; one for the A330 and one for the A350.
Toulouse also became the site of Airbus’ initial FAL, putting together the world’s first twinjet widebody airliner, the A300, and the A310, over 40 years ago. Meanwhile, the Airbus A380 paintshop in Hamburg, with a surface of 42.200 m², was constructed in 2004.
Emirates has adorned several of its A380s with special liveries, such as the United for Wildlife against illegal wildlife trade. Photo: Vincenzo Pace – Simple Flying
Paintshop special assignments
Over the years, the Hamburg paintshop has been tasked by Emirates to adorn its A380s with special liveries. Many have been related to football as Emirates sponsors several teams from top leagues, such as AC Milan, Real Madrid, and Arsenal.
In 2019, the airline celebrated Emirati Hazza Al Mansouri’s successful mission to space with an astronaut in front of the International Space Station, with the text “The Sky is Only the Beginning.”
Furthermore, the carrier has protested against the illegal wildlife trade, with an eye-catching array of wild animals displayed across a superjumbo fuselage in 2015.
Viva Air Colombia’s First A320neo Spotted in Toulouse
Painted nose to tail in bright yellow, Viva Air Colombia’s first A320neo paraded out onto the tarmac in Toulouse, France, last week. The new color is a big departure from Viva Air Colombia’s mostly white aircraft. No matter how busy the airport, this brand new A320 will be easy to spot in the crowd.
Viva Air Colombia’s first A320neo has rolled out of the Airbus factory in Toulouse. Photo: Airbus
The plane, to be registered as HK-5352, was photographed on September 11. She was rolling down the taxiway at Toulouse about to undertake her first flight.
The first of many A320neos for Viva Air Colombia
This aircraft is the first of many A320neos the Colombian low-cost carrier expects to take in the new few years. In 2017, the airline signed an agreement to buy 50 single-aisle Airbus aircraft, including 35 A320neos. The airline said it was purchasing the planes to modernize its fleet and grow its network.
“Airbus is pleased to play a major role in supporting Viva Air in its exciting journey to develop the low-cost model throughout Latin America,” said Airbus Customers Chief Operating Officer, John Leahy, at the time.
Viva Air Colombia remains optimistic about the future
Since beginning operations in 2012, Medellin-based Viva Air Colombia has gradually built its fleet up to 22 A320-200 planes. Now Colombia’s third-biggest airline, that slow and considered growth has held the airline in good stead this year. While half of Viva Air Colombia’s fleet is parked, the airline hasn’t tinkered with its Airbus order and remains optimistic about growth opportunities in Central and South America.
“We do believe that there are going to be more opportunities in the market and business opportunities as well because the market is going to be reconfigured, and we have to be vigilant and agile to take advantage of those market opportunities,” Viva Air Colombia’s Chief Executive Officer, Felix Antelo, told Finance Colombia.
The experienced operators behind Viva Air Colombia are another reason why the airline is riding out 2020 better than most. Viva Air Colombia is a private company backed by Irelandia Aviation. In addition to its Colombian airlines, Irelandia Aviation is behind Ryanair, Allegiant Airlines, Tiger Airways, and VivaAerobus. Irelandia Aviation likes to run its airlines lean, keeping costs down, and that gives it an advantage over struggling legacy competitors.
To date, Viva Air Colombia has operated a fleet of A320-200s. Photo: Judes9809720 via Wikimedia Commons
Keeping the fleet simple helps Viva Air Colombia power forward
Besides ownership, one common denominator between these airlines is their straightforward fleets. Felix Antelo has been a big fan of the existing A320s Viva Air Colombia flies. He told Finance Colombia,
“The most efficient aircraft operating in Colombia is the Airbus A320. It also has a very efficient configuration due to the number of seats we have, and, as you well know, they consume less fuel. They have more reliability, (and) they fly more hours between maintenance.”
The A320neo builds on the A320’s efficiencies. CFM LEAP-1A engines will power the A320neos. These highly successful engines have sold around the world. They promise to bring further efficiencies to Viva Air Colombia. Airbus says that the engines and aircraft design improvements should cut fuel costs by 20%.
That will be music to the ears of Felix Antelo and his bosses in Ireland. 2020 has proved a challenging year for airlines in Colombia. Most international flights remain suspended. But when things start getting back to normal, Viva Air Colombia wants to be well placed to capitalize on it. Its shiny yellow A320neos will help it do that.
Airbus cancels plan to develop its own A320neo nacelle
The coronavirus downturn has led Airbus to scrap its planned development of an A320neo engine nacelle that would have competed with nacelles produced by supplier Collins Aerospace.
The reversal stands to affect Bombardier’s Belfast, Northern Ireland manufacturing site, which Airbus picked to produce the nacelle, and Spirit AeroSystems, which plans to acquire Bombardier’s Belfast site.
Airbus had for several years been moving forward with the effort to develop a competing nacelle for A320neos powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1100G turbofans. The plan did not affect A320neos powered by CFM International Leap-1As. Safran Nacelles makes that variant’s unit.
An Airbus A320neo powered by a Pratt & Whitney PW1100G turbofan
“Airbus has decided it will stop the marketing, development and manufacturing of its own nacelle to concentrate its efforts on the current existing nacelle,” the European airframer says in a statement. “As such, only the existing Collins nacelle for the A320neo-family aircraft powered by the PW1100G engine will be offered.”
Airbus attributes the change to the coronavirus downturn.
“The unprecedented Covid-19 crisis leaves Airbus with no choice than to revisit all current and future product development activities to protect our cash and reduce as much as possible our expenditures,” it says. “We have concluded that it is in the interest of our customers to concentrate on mature and existing product offerings.”
Collins, a subsidiary of Raytheon Technologies, declines to comment. P&W is also owned by Raytheon.
Airbus’ nacelle ambitions had conformed with an industry trend under which airframers have recently brought more work in-house, competing with suppliers. Boeing also recently took nacelle and propulsions system work back from suppliers.
Collins had expected Airbus would offer a competing nacelle after 2024, when a sole-source contract expired, Raytheon chief executive Gregory Hayes said in 2017. At the time, Hayes was CEO of Raytheon corporate predecessor United Technologies, which performed the nacelle work via its United Technologies Aerospace Systems (UTAS) business. UTAS merged with Rockwell Collins to form Collins Aerospace in 2018.
Also in 2017, Airbus chose Bombardier Aerostructures and Engineering Services as manufacturer of its new nacelles for PW1100G-powered A320neos. That work was to be performed at Bombardier’s Northern Ireland site.
Wichita aerostructures company Spirit, which is beset by issues stemming from the 737 Max grounding, agreed last year to purchase the Belfast site, and facilities in Morocco and Dallas, from Bombardier for $500 million.
Spirit says its acquisition plan remains unchanged. The company had said it intended to close the deal by the first half of 2020.
