The A319neo has been certified by the US FAA and European EASA airworthiness authorities to run with CFM International’s Leap-1A engine.
The other aircraft in the single-aisle A320neo family of aircraft, the A320neo itself and the A321neo, have already been certified to operate with the CFM Leap-1A engine option. The aircraft can also be powered by the PurePower PW1100G from Pratt & Whitney.
This latest achievement follows a certification flight test program that started with the A319neo’s first flight in March 2018. The variant has now accumulated more than 500 flight hours.
The A319neo with Leap-1A engines is the fifth airframe/engine variant of the NEO (new engine option) family certified over the last three years. Its certification also paves the way for the ACJ319neo (Airbus Corporate Jet) variant to enter service with VIP operators during the first half of 2019.
The A319neo is the shortened-fuselage member of the product line. The airliner can seat 140 passengers in two classes or 160 in a high-density layout with a range of up to 3,750 nautical miles.
According to Airbus, over 6,200 A320neo aircraft have been ordered from more than 100 customers since the family’s launch, capturing some 60% share of the market.