A320 fleet hits over 50 million cycles

An A320 Family aircraft takes off every six seconds. (Airbus)

Airbus has announced that the global fleet of A320 Family narrowbody aircraft has exceeded 50 million flight cycles since the first aircraft entered service in 1988.

“One of our A320 Family aircraft takes off every six seconds somewhere around the world and they have carried more than five billion people, which is a huge achievement,” said John Leahy, Airbus chief operating officer – customers. “We are investing at least €100 million a year in the A320 Family in order to maintain it as the world’s most modern and fuel efficient aircraft family that will continue to bring people together for the decades to come.”

More than 4300 A320 Family aircraft have been delivered, with the type’s backlog stretching past 2000. Airbus is currently examining a new engine option for the A320, ahead of a likely replacement during the mid 2020s.