The Supervisory Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG approved in September 2018 the purchase of more 27 short- and medium-haul aircraft. Purchase options for 24 Airbus A320neo and three A321neo will be converted into firm orders. With this decision, the Lufthansa Group is reacting to the positive market and earnings development and thus ensuring the necessary fleet size in the coming years. The total investment of this order amounts to a list price of about three billion US dollars. This increases the total number of A320neo and A321neo orders to 149 for the Group.

149 
total number of A320neo
and A321neo orders

Noise and emissions reduction

The A320neo and A321neo (short for "New Engine Option") are scheduled for delivery in 2023 and 2024. Ten of the 27 new aircraft are intended for SWISS, the remaining aircraft will be in service by other flight operations within the Aviation Group. One part of the order will be equipped with Pratt & Whitney engines (PW1100G), the other with LEAP-1A engines from CFM International. This means that both engine types will continue to be available to the Lufthansa Group in roughly equal proportions for the “Neo” family.

The innovative engine technologies developed by Pratt & Whitney and CFM International as well as the aerodynamic wingtips (sharklets) with which the aircraft are equipped reduce fuel consumption significantly by up to 20 percent per seat kilometer. As all Lufthansa A320 Family aircraft, the A320neo and A321neo are serially equipped with noise-reducing vortex generators. An A320neo taking off has a noise carpet that is around 50 percent smaller than that of other aircraft of this type.

Noise contours compared A320neo vs. A320ceo

The Airbus A320neo (new engine option) has an approximately 50 percent reduced noise contour compared with the Airbus A320ceo (current engine option).

The 85 dB(A) maximum noise level contours are shown for a takeoff with Lufthansa standard takeoff procedures and maximum takeoff weight (MTOW).

By comparison, a maximum noise level of 85 dB(A) is produced by a truck passing at a distance of five meters (16 feet) in city traffic.

Facts and figures

Airbus A321neo

Airbus A321neo
Length44.5 m
Wingspan35.8 m
Height11.9 m
Cruising Speed840 km/h
Max. altitude11,900 m
Max. takeoff weight89,000 kg
Max. landing weight79,200 kg
Range3,470 km

Airbus A320neo

Airbus A320neo
Length37.6 m
Wingspan35.8 m
Height11.8 m
Cruising Speed840 km/h
Max. altitude11,900 m
Max. takeoff weight73,500 kg
Max. landing weight67,400 kg
Range3,470 km