DUBLIN (Reuters) - European planemaker Airbus (PA:AIR) said on Wednesday it had delivered the first A320neo, a fuel-efficient upgrade of its best-selling jetliner, to German carrier Lufthansa (DE:LHAG).
The delivery marks the culmination of a five-year plan to give a new lease of life to its profitable A320 narrowbody jet family by revamping it with new engines.
Both Airbus and its U.S. rival Boeing (N:BA) triggered thousands of new orders and dampened sales of new entrants to the global jet market by refreshing their short-haul models.
The jet was delivered in Hamburg, Germany, after a delay of three weeks caused by what Airbus officials described as problems with documentation for a new generation of engines, made by United Technologies (N:UTX) unit Pratt & Whitney.
The plane is also offered with alternative engines supplied by French-American joint-venture CFM International, owned by Safran (PA:SAF) and General Electric (N:GE).