Is the Airbus A320 safe?
Short answer: yes — and the data backs it up. In service since 1988, the Airbus A320 has flown over 135.0 million flights with 21 fatal incidents in its lifetime — far below older-generation jets.
Why nervous flyers ask about the Airbus A320
The A320 family is the most-flown aircraft in history — over 135 million flights completed. The first airliner with full fly-by-wire controls, which make many common mistakes physically impossible for pilots to make.
By the numbers
- Total units built: 11,500
- Currently in service: 10,400
- Cumulative flights flown: 135.0 million
- Engines: 2
- Maximum range: 3,500 miles
- Hull losses per million flights: 0.10
- Fatal incidents (all time): 21
How it handles turbulence
With a turbulence-resistance score of 7.0/10, the Airbus A320 rides turbulence about as well as any narrow-body jet — comparable to driving over expansion joints on a highway. Bumps that feel jarring at first quickly become familiar background motion.
What pilots say about it
Crews who fly the Airbus A320 consistently describe it as predictable, well-equipped and forgiving. Workhorse narrow-body, strong record. For passengers, that translates to fewer surprises and a more uniform flying experience flight-to-flight.