The Airbus A320 family is the best-selling narrowbody aircraft today. Designed in the 1980s, it changed the game compared to its older Boeing 737 competitor. At the time of its introduction, the A320 was far ahead of the 737 in technology. It featured a glass cockpit, a fly-by-wire system, and more fuel-efficient engines like the CFMI CFM56.
The Airbus A320 family includes multiple variants and now even spans generations. While these aircraft may look identical to the untrained eye, each variant has distinct differences. Here’s how to recognize the different variants and generations of the Airbus A320 family.
The Airbus A320 family consists of four main aircraft types: A318, A319, A320, and A321. Their fuselage lengths provide an easy way to identify them. The A318, known as the “baby bus,” has the shortest fuselage at 31.44 meters. The A319 follows with 33.84 meters, the A320 has 37.57 meters, and the A321, the longest in the family, measures 44.51 meters. Each model caters to different operational needs and seating capacities, which has helped the A320 family remain popular in commercial aviation.
The A320-200 is the most widely used model globally, while the A318 is less common. Currently, Air France is the only known operator of the A318, though the A220-300 will soon replace it. This shift reflects ongoing efforts to modernize fleets with newer, more efficient designs.
The A320 series consists of two engine configurations: the A320ceo (Current Engine Option) and the A320neo (New Engine Option). The NEO uses advanced engines, such as the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G or CFMI CFM LEAP-1A, which offer better fuel efficiency and larger engine size. These engines provide quieter operations compared to the older engines found on the CEO series, which include the CFM56 and IAE V2500 turbofans. Airbus has discontinued sales of the CEO, making the NEO engines the standard for new deliveries.
The Two A320 Family Generations: NEO and CEO
The easiest way to distinguish between the NEO and CEO is to observe the engines. The NEO’s engines are larger and have noticeable differences in shape compared to the CEO. You can also hear the difference during takeoff. The CEO engines produce a loud, whiny sound, while the NEO engines operate quietly, emitting a high-pitched tone during spool-up and a deep “mooing” sound during startup.
Fuselage length helps differentiate between A320 family variants, but other features also stand out. Wing fences or sharklets, which reduce drag, are present on some models. However, the engines and length remain the most reliable indicators when identifying an A320 family aircraft.
However, today, the actual “CEO” or Current Engine Option for the A320 family includes those on the “NEO,” the PW1100G and the CFM LEAP-1A. Airbus no longer offers an A320 with CFM56 and IAE V2500 engines. Hence, some people refer to “CEO” as “Classic Engine Option.”
