Airbus A319Airbus A319

Specifications Airbus A319

The figures in this table refer to one specific variant — A319neo. This avoids combining the range, capacity and dimensions of different versions into an inaccurate set of figures.

Variant shown in the table

A319neo

Type

narrow-body passenger aircraft

Family's first flight

Year 1995

Passenger capacity

120–150 seats in a typical two-class layout; maximum 160

Flight range

up to 6,850 km (3,700 nautical miles)

Mach limit

M 0,82

Length

33,84 m

Wingspan

35,80 m

How the aircraft came about

History Airbus A319

The first A319 flew in 1995. The aircraft was created as a more compact version of the A320 and received the same fuselage diameter, fly-by-wire control system and the cockpit layout characteristic of the family.

After the release of the A320 and the elongated A321, Airbus returned to the idea of a shortened aircraft for lines with less demand. Seven sections of the A320 were removed from the fuselage, preserving the main architecture of the family. The first customer, Swissair, received the A319 in 1996. The general admission of pilots for the family made it easier for airlines to enter the model into the park.

Milestones and decisions

Programme development

The A319 came after the A320 family had already proven the suitability of a common cockpit and systems for several aircraft sizes. Shortening the fuselage retained most of the equipment of the older model, so the airline could combine the A319 with the A320 and A321 in one park. Airbus later offered the A319neo with a new generation of engines, but the demand for it was noticeably less than for more capacious versions of the family.

Model features

Design and variants

The A319 has almost the same wing and fuel supply as the longer A320, but fewer passenger seats. This combination explains why the shortened option can work on relatively long routes. The number of emergency exits and allowable capacity depend on the version and certified cabin layout.

The original A319ceo was produced with the engines of the previous generation; A319neo refers to the updated line with new engines and aerodynamic modifications. Separately, there was a corporate ACJ319 with a different interior and tasks. The size and performance of these options should be distinguished.

Powerplant

Engines

Two CFM International LEAP-1A or Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-JM.

The engine variant fitted to an individual aircraft is recorded in its documentation. The powerplant affects thrust, fuel consumption, noise and maintenance requirements.

On board

Cabin and passenger capacity

One pass and six seats in a row in the economy class. Carriers may establish one or two classes of service.

Passenger capacity - 120-150 seats in a typical two-class layout; maximum 160. The exact number of seats is determined by the operator: business class, kitchens, toilets and recreation areas of the crew take place. Therefore, the layout of the cabin differs even with the same models.

In practice

Operations and uses

The A319 was especially suitable for flights where the A320 would not be fully loaded, and for lines where frequent departures are important. The aircraft was also used on relatively long routes with little passenger traffic. Due to the general training of crews, the carrier could change the capacity of the flight without creating a separate typical fleet of pilots; the actual range depended on the load and the chosen version.

Technical analysis

How it works Airbus A319

The main engineering meaning of the A319 was not to create a completely new aircraft, but to change the capacity of the platform already mastered. Airbus has reduced the fuselage of the A320, maintaining its cross-section, many systems, the cockpit and the principle of electric remote control. For the carrier, this meant familiar maintenance arrangements and the ability to train crews for multiple sizes of the same family. But the generality of the type does not erase the differences: the length of the hull, the number of passengers, the mass and the allowed emergency exit schemes of the A319 have their own.

The relatively short fuselage at close wing and fuel reserve affected the combination of range and loading. The aircraft could perform flights where a large stock of A320 seats was not required, while maintaining the ability to fly far by the standards of a narrow-body model. This is not a promise of maximum passport range with any number of passengers: fuel, luggage, oncoming wind and reserve for an alternate airfield occupy part of the permissible takeoff weight. For an accurate calculation, you need a specific board, not just the name of the family.

Early A319s used CFM56 or IAE V2500 engines depending on the order. The updated A319neo received the next generation engines and aerodynamic changes associated with the A320neo program. Externally, the aircraft are similar, so the photos of the cabin or the general name of the A319 can not be determined by the engine and fuel consumption. The corporate ACJ319 uses the same original airframe size for a completely different task: the number of seats gives way to partitions, restrooms and additional equipment.

History and operations

Role Airbus A319 in airline service

After the first deliveries, the Swissair A319 entered the fleets of many network and budget airlines. For the network carrier, it allowed to maintain the frequency on the route without sending a larger A320 with an empty cabin. For a budget company, the same machine could get a denser layout, but the maximum capacity depends on the certified number of exits and other safety requirements. Thus, the published number of seats often describes the airline’s decision, rather than the constant property of the airframe.

The A319 was sometimes chosen for destinations with low demand and relatively long lengths. This use is due to the combination of fewer passenger seats and the A320 platform. However, a flight at the limit of distance may require a restriction of baggage or the number of seats sold. If you compare the A319 with the A321 only by passport distance, it is easy to miss the economy of the chair: a longer plane is beneficial where there are enough passengers to fill its cabin.

The appearance of the A319neo did not cancel a large fleet of aircraft of the previous generation. The airline still has questions about the age of a particular board, installed engine, maintenance and layout, which are more important than the overall index when choosing a flight. Inside the family, Airbus can change the size of the aircraft to meet demand, while maintaining common procedures for crews. It is this flexibility, rather than record capacity, that explains the A319’s continued presence on regional and international lines.

For comparison

Location Airbus A319 among other aircraft

The Airbus line is useful to consider the task of the route, and not as a sequence of "better - worse". A319, A320 and A321 belong to the same single-pass family, but give different capacity and, in some versions, different range. The A330 and A350 are designed for double-passage and long international flights; the A380 solves the special problem of maximum flow between major airports. The carrier does not choose the largest aircraft at all, but the size that corresponds to the load and the desired frequency. If you send too large a car, empty seats can negate the benefits of its passport effectiveness. If it's too small, there won't be enough space or you'd have to limit your luggage. Therefore, one airline can simultaneously operate several types of Airbus on routes of different length and density.

The general school of cockpit and control systems is noticeable for many Airbus, but it does not make certificates, engines and gliders the same. Even the close A319 and A321 differ in mass, output and layout, and there are much more engineering differences between the A320 and A350. The words ceo, neo, LR, XLR, and ULR refer to specific generations or tasks. When reading the technical table, you should first find the full index of the modification, then check the range conditions: the number of passengers, cargo, cruising mode and fuel reserves. The declared maximum in capacity and the declared maximum in range often refer to different scenarios. This order allows you to compare aircraft on a real flight, rather than a combination of the two most attractive numbers from different advertising lines.

Where it flies

Airline operators

Examples of current or historically notable operators of the model and its variants:

• easyJet
• American Airlines
• Lufthansa
• Air France

Fleets change. Check the aircraft type and seat map on the airline's official website before your flight.