Airbus A319

The A319 is a shortened A320. Airbus launched it in June 1993 because its single-aisle family needed a smaller jet to face the Boeing 737-300 and -700. The prototype first flew from Hamburg on August 25, 1995, and Swissair began passenger flights in 1996. Airbus needed no new type rating and no new production line to build it. Design costs and risk both stayed very low.

Airbus cut several fuselage frames but kept the A320's wing, engines and fuel capacity. The result was a light jet seating 124 to 156 people. Extra fuel and lower weight gave it very long legs for its size. easyJet built its early growth on hundreds of A319s, ordered with extra overwing exits so they could hold 156 seats. Few jets of its size could match that reach.

American, United, Delta, British Airways and Lufthansa used the A319 on thinner routes. Strong hot-and-high performance made it a favorite at tough airports such as Mexico City and La Paz. About 1,500 ceo-model A319s were built. The re-engined A319neo has sold only in small numbers, as airlines keep moving up to larger A320neo-family jets. The ACJ319 corporate version still carries governments and VIPs worldwide. Hundreds remain in daily service.

The A319 is an A320 shortened by about seven fuselage frames. It keeps the same wing, the same CFM56-5B or IAE V2500 engines.

The same fly-by-wire sidestick cockpit, where computers convert pilot inputs into control movements. One type rating therefore covers the A318 through the A321, so airlines mix the variants freely.

Because it carries A320 fuel volume in a lighter airframe, the A319 flies farther than the A320 and copes well with short or high-altitude runways. The cabin seats 124 to 156 people and is 3.9 meters wide, wider than any 737.