Adds more seats, reduces seat mile costs by five percent

17 January 2013

Airbus is offering airlines brand new options for configuring the generous floor space offered by the A321neo. These allow more flexibility and thus increase the number of seats at the same comfort standard. In addition, the maximum exit limit is raised beyond 220 seats. These new cabin options capitalize on recent innovations in cabin monuments and seat design which allow airlines more efficient use of cabin space without compromising passenger comfort. The new cabin options will enter into service in the second half of 2017.

The first new option consists of an additional over-wing exit door which raises the current maximum exit limit so operators can make even more use of the available cabin floor space.  When this new option is combined with the Space-Flexaft cabin configuration, the A321neo can accommodate up to 236 seats, 16 seats more than today’s maximum seating, which leads to a reduction in seat mile costs of five percent.

In conjunction with the additional over-wing exit door, a second new option is available whereby the forward exit is de-activated. This creates a seamless, undivided forward cabin allowing additional seats and even more flexibility in multi-class seat arrangements. This option will be of particular use in longer range markets where high comfort standards are needed in Premium class.

The A320 Family offers the widest cross section in the single aisle aircraft market with the Airbus standard 18 inch wide seat in economy class.

The A320neo Family incorporates latest generation engines and large Sharklet wing-tip devices, which together will deliver up to 15 percent in fuel savings which is equivalent to 1.4 million litres of fuel – the consumption of 1,000 mid size cars, saving 3,600 tons of C02 per aircraft per year. With more than 1,700 firm orders since its launch in December 2010, the A320neo Family has proven to be the fastest selling commercial aircraft programme ever.

Source and image: Airbus