Northwest held firm orders for 100 A320-211s but has since reduced this to 50, all of which have been delivered. Like many other US airlines it will have a distinct need in the future for an aircraft in the A319 class. N335NW, the 35th A320 acquired by the airline, is seen on approach to Los Angeles International in October 1994.

The A319 is the third member of the Airbus 'standard-body' family, and like its sisters will feature the widest fuselage cross-section of current single aisle aircraft.

Airbus Industrie A319

Air Canada is the North American launch customer for the A319, having ordered up to 35 aircraft to replace its large DC-9-30 fleet from 1996, and supplement the 34 A320s currently operated.

Air Inter is one of two airlines so far to have ordered all three derivatives of the A320. Its 210-seat A321s (illustrated) will be joined from July 1996 by at least nine 142-seat A319s.