IB 631: MAD → ZRH – Flight Guide

The Airbus A320 is one of the safest and most thoroughly tested commercial aircraft ever built. With over 9,000 aircraft delivered and billions of flight hours accumulated since 1988, it is the backbone of short and medium-haul aviation worldwide. It was the first commercial aircraft to use fly-by-wire technology, setting a new standard for safety and reliability.

The A320 first flew in 1987 and entered commercial service in 1988. Despite its age, the design has been continuously updated with newer engines, avionics, and cabin interiors. Many A320s in service today have modern 'Airspace' cabin interiors and are just a few years old as airframes.

The A320 typically seats between 150 and 186 passengers. Budget airlines like Ryanair and easyJet configure it for maximum density with around 180 seats, while full-service carriers offer more spacious layouts with 150-165 seats, sometimes including a small business class.

The A320 has a range of approximately 6,150 km, making it ideal for flights up to 6-7 hours. It's the most popular aircraft for European intra-continental routes, transatlantic shuttle services, and busy domestic corridors in the US, India, and China.

The A320 is most comfortable on flights under 4 hours. For longer routes, the narrow seating and limited legroom in economy class can become tiring. Exit row seats offer the best legroom, and choosing a window seat avoids being disturbed by other passengers.

Exit rows (typically rows 11-12) provide the most legroom and are the top choice for tall passengers. Seats 1A-1F at the very front offer extra legroom and quick boarding/exit. Avoid rows 29-32 as they are at the very rear near the engines and may have limited recline.

The A320 handles turbulence very well thanks to its fly-by-wire system, which automatically makes control adjustments hundreds of times per second. Seats over the wing (rows 10-20) experience the least movement during turbulence, as this is the aircraft's centre of gravity.

The A320 is moderately quiet for a short-haul jet. The CFM56 or V2500 engines produce a characteristic hum, but cabin insulation is good. Front seats (rows 1-10) are the quietest, while rear seats (rows 25+) experience more engine and airframe noise, especially during landing.

A standard A320 has 3 toilets: one at the front near the cockpit and two at the rear. On high-density configurations, the front toilet may be removed to add extra seats, leaving only the two rear toilets. Queue times at the rear can be long on full flights.

Wi-Fi depends on the airline. Full-service carriers like Lufthansa, Air France, and British Airways typically offer Wi-Fi on A320 flights. Budget carriers like Ryanair and easyJet generally do not. Check your airline's website or app before the flight.

The A320 is an excellent choice for nervous flyers. Its fly-by-wire system provides a very smooth ride, actively compensating for turbulence. The aircraft is extremely reliable and maintained to the highest standards. Sitting over the wings gives the most stable sensation in choppy air.

Cabin air on the A320 is completely refreshed every 2-3 minutes through a combination of recirculated and fresh outside air. HEPA filters remove 99.97% of airborne particles. Humidity levels are low at altitude, so staying hydrated is important on flights over 2 hours.

Over 4,500 A320s are in active service globally, making it one of the most common aircraft in the sky. It is operated by over 200 airlines worldwide and can be found at virtually every major airport in the world.

The A320 is operated by almost every major airline in the world. Notable operators include Ryanair, easyJet, Lufthansa, Air France, British Airways, IndiGo, Air China, American Airlines, United Airlines, and hundreds more. It is the most popular single-aisle aircraft alongside the Boeing 737.

The A320 has good overhead bin capacity compared to older narrow-body jets. On modern refit aircraft, the bins are large enough to accommodate most standard cabin bags. Boarding early ensures you can store your bag near your seat. On fully loaded holiday flights, space can be tight.