A sign of the acceptance achieved by the A320 family is the fact that it is operated in large numbers by numerous American airlines. Previously these carriers had tended to buy US-built airliners. Pictured is an A320 of Northwest Airlines.

This photograph of an A320 cockpit illustrates some of the features that have made the type so popular with pilots, such as the multifunction displays of the glass cockpit, and the side-sticks Airbus opted for instead of the traditional control yokes.

The smallest member of the A320 family is the A318, which can carry 117 passengers in a single-class configuration. Air France flies 18 of the type and is one of the few carriers that operates all four variants.

Launched in 1993, the A319 has to date proved to be the second most popular variant of the A320 family, with 1,574 orders. The type has recently found favour with low-cost airlines such as Air Berlin and easyJet. The UK carrier expects to have no less than 229 A319s in its fleet by 2012. This aircraft wears special markings, denoting that this is the 100th A319 to be delivered to easyJet.

In 1997 the Airbus Corporate Jet version of the A319 was launched. This variant can be fitted with up to eight additional fuel tanks, which extends the range to 6.000nm carrying eight passengers. It has proved popular as a private jet, for business passenger-only airline routes and as a VIP transport for governments. This example is one of three operated by the Italian Air Force.

An A319 of China Southern Airlines, one of 50 Airbuses of various models it operates: it has another 80 on order. Airbus has won significant orders from the growing market in China and aims to build on this by opening a joint venture production line in Tianjin building A320s.

After the success of the A320, Airbus decided to offer a stretched version that could carry 199 passengers compared to its predecessor’s 164. This view emphasises the length of the A321, which is 22ft 9in longer than the earlier model. The aircraft illustrated is flown by UK carrier First Choice Airways, one of many charter airlines which have bought members of the A320 family.