10,000th in A320 family ordered

JetBlue Airways has placed a new order for 35 A320 family aircraft, specifically 15 A321ceo (current engine option) and 20 A321neo (new engine option) aircraft. The airline has opted to upsize 8 A320ceo and 10 A320neo aircraft on backlog to 8 A321ceo and 10 A321neo, respectively. This marks the 10,000th order for an Airbus A320 family aircraft. Launch in the 1984, the A320 family has evolved with the latest innovations being the A320neo and the sharklets fuel saving wing tip devices. JetBlue will be the first airline in the world to take delivery of an aircraft from Airbus’ newest assembly facility under construction in Mobile, Ala. The facility will create 1,000 new jobs in the U.S. Gulf Coast region, and is part of the strategy to meet the growing needs of customers in the United States. Deliveries at the Mobile facility will begin in 2016. Airbus anticipates the facility will produce between 40 and 50 aircraft per year by 2018. (Source: Airbus, 10/29/13)