Airbus may launch a high-density variant of the A320neo in response to the Boeing 737 MAX-8200. The information was revealed by journalist Andreas Spaeth, who shared a presentation where the jetliner is configured with 194 seats.
Called the Space Flex V2, the configuration adds three more rows of seats to the A320’s cabin. At the front, the configuration has a new 2+2 row and at the back a regular 3+3 row and another 2+2 row.
The solution to getting more space inside the cabin is creative and attractive for the airlines, but not so much for the passengers – and the flight attendants who work on the plane.
Seat pitch alarm! @Airbus wants to get #A320 recertified for 194 seats up from 180 by 2024/25 with cabin mods, ending up with 28″? Equally #A330 is to be upgraded to max 465 pax from 440. Legroom becomes the new gold… #PaxEx #avgeek pic.twitter.com/BOU0XuE0kG
— Andreas Spaeth (@SpaethFlies) June 16, 2022
With the addition of more rows, also by reducing the pitch between the rows, the A320 cabin seen in the image loses half the space in the rear, where the galley loses half the space for the installation of two toilets.
According to reports, flight attendants complain about the lack of space to work on the plane and passengers criticize the bathrooms with too thin walls.
Ultra low cost carriers
The potential high-density variant of the A320neo has a very obvious clientele, ultra-low-cost airlines. It was one of them that made possible the launch of the 737 MAX-8200, Ryanair.
The aircraft entered service in 2021 after a long wait for approval for commercial operation of the 737 MAX by civil aviation authorities worldwidei.
There are currently about 250 orders from four customers for the 737 MAX-8200, which is certified to carry 197 passengers.
If overall, the A320neo family has taken advantage of orders over the 737 MAX, the Boeing aircraft is unrivaled in this niche.
