Airbus to offer wider seats

Airbus plans to offer airlines the option of an extra-wide 20-inch seat on its A320 aircraft. Currently the planemaker configures narrow-body jets with three 18 inch-wide seats in each row of the economy-class cabin. Under the new concept, two seats would be reduced to 17 inches with the third 20. (Source: Flightglobal, 04/11/13) In another Airbus matter, American Airlines will split its order for 130 Airbus A320 aircraft equally between the A319 and A321, according to engine supplier International Aero Engines (IAE). American will take 65 A319s with CFM International CFM56-5B engines and 65 A321s with IAE V2500-A5 engines, says Jon Beatty, president and chief executive of IAE. American previously had not disclosed how many of each type it planned to take delivery of beyond 2013. It will accept 15 A319s and five A321s from the manufacturer this year. (Source: Flightglobal, 04/11/13) Gulf Coast note: Airbus broke ground this week on its new A320 plant in Mobile, Ala. It also has aircraft manufacturing plants in France, Germany and China.