Space
Airbus May Not Introduce A320 Replacement Until 2027
Bloomberg News (6/10, Rothman) reported, "Airbus SAS may need until 2027 to introduce an all-new single-aisle plane because new materials and engine technologies won't be ready before then." COO John Leahy said a replacement for the A320 "doesn't make any sense" until the "game-changing technologies in airframes, systems and engines" are available "around 2025, 2027." As for putting in a new engine into the plane, "Leahy also said he'd be willing to have use Pratt & Whitney's geared turbofan engine... should the United Technologies Corp. unit fail to agree with Rolls-Royce Group Plc on offering the engine through their International Aero Engines venture. Leahy in January had said he wanted to work with IAE, not individually with Pratt."
