An Airbus A321neo ACF aircraft. Credit: Airbus S.A.S.

Airbus has finished the assembly of its first A321neo aircraft with Airbus Cabin Flex (ACF) configuration at the company’s facilities in Hamburg, Germany.

Powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines, the aircraft will undergo ground tests before commencing its first scheduled flight over the upcoming weeks.

Delivery of a new A321neo ACF is expected to be carried out to an undisclosed customer by mid-2018.

The A321neo ACF represents the latest aircraft developed under the portfolio of A320 aircraft family. It incorporates updated fuselage and is designed to offer additional flexible cabin configurations to carry up to 240 passengers.

“Delivery of a new A321neo ACF is expected to be carried out to an undisclosed customer by mid-2018.”

The A321neo ACF also includes a new rear section and a modified passenger door configuration, which removes the door located forward of the wing and adds overwing emergency exits in the centre section.

Airbus has launched the A321neo ACF configuration as an option but plans to make it a standard for all A321neo aircraft by around 2020.

The A321neo ACF has also been developed as a base for a longer range variant known as A321LR, which features an additional maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 97t and a third underfloor fuel tank that enables airlines to increase its range to 4,000 nautical miles for intercontinental flights.

Airbus plans to deliver an A321LR aircraft in the fourth quarter of this year.

In a separate development, Reuters reported that Airbus entered a non-binding agreement with Turkish Airlines on a potential order for 25 A350-900 aircraft.

Confirming the deal, Turkish Airlines noted in a statement that it had started negotiations with Airbus on the deal.