Aircraft encyclopedia · Airbus
Airbus A318: Specifications, Range and History
The Airbus A318 is the shortest member of the A320 family. Developed as the A319M3, it is 31.44 m long, seats 107 in a typical two-class layout and flies 3,100 nm.
It first flew on 15 January 2002 and entered service with launch customer Frontier Airlines in July 2003. Airbus delivered 80, the fewest of the original A320 family members.
At a glance
A318 at a glance
| Class |
Single-aisle airliner, short to medium haul |
| Best for |
Thin routes and private or government transport |
| Passengers |
107 typical (8 first, 99 economy), exit limit 136 |
| Flight crew |
2 pilots |
| Engines |
2 x CFM56-5B or 2 x Pratt & Whitney PW6000 |
| Compare with |
Boeing 737-600, Airbus A319 |
Size
Dimensions
| Length |
31.44 m (103 ft 2 in) |
| Wingspan |
34.10 m (111 ft 11 in) |
| Height |
12.56 m (41 ft 2 in) |
| Fuselage width |
3.95 m |
| Cabin width |
3.70 m |
| Cargo volume |
21.20 m³ |
Range and speed
Performance
| Range |
3,100 nm (5,700 km) |
| Cruise speed |
Mach 0.78, 448 kn (829 km/h) |
| Maximum operating speed |
Mach 0.82 |
Weights
Weights
| Maximum takeoff weight |
68 t (150,000 lb) |
| Maximum payload |
15 t (33,000 lb) |
| Operating empty weight |
39.5 t (87,100 lb) |
| Fuel capacity |
24,210 L |
Equipment
Equipment and main systems
What is installed on the A318, which other versions exist and where the same equipment flies.
Engines
On the A318
2 x CFM56-5B or 2 x Pratt & Whitney PW6000
PW6000
Designed for the A318, 22,100 to 23,800 lbf. All PW6000-powered airframes had been retired by 2019.
CFM56-5B
The same engine family that powers the A319, A320 and A321, from 22,000 to 33,000 lbf across the family
Flight controls
On the A320 family
Digital fly-by-wire with side-sticks. The A320 was the first airliner with digital fly-by-wire flight controls, and the whole family shares the same cockpit and handling.
Commonality
Pilots move between the A318, A319, A320 and A321 on one type rating, which keeps training simple for mixed fleets
Fuselage and cabin
Cross-section
Fuselage 3.95 m wide, cabin 3.70 m wide, the same on all four family members
Cruise
Mach 0.78 (448 kn, 829 km/h), maximum operating Mach 0.82
Engines across the A320 family (ceo)
| A318 |
CFM56-5B or Pratt & Whitney PW6000 |
| A319 |
IAE V2500-A5 or CFM56-5B |
| A320 |
IAE V2500-A5 or CFM56-5A / 5B |
| A321 |
IAE V2500-A5 or CFM56-5B |
Equipment and weights vary by serial number, options and later modifications. ICCJET checks the actual configuration of each aircraft.
The cabin
The typical two-class layout seats 107: 8 in first or business and 99 in economy, in the same 3.70 m wide cabin as the larger A320 family members.
History
History and production
| Development name |
A319M3 |
| First flight |
15 January 2002 |
| Entered service |
July 2003, Frontier Airlines (launch customer) |
| Aircraft delivered |
80 |
| PW6000 fleet |
retired by 2019 |
Rivals
A318 vs Boeing 737-600 and Airbus A319
Airbus A318
Seats107 typical
Range3,100 nm
Length31.44 m
Max takeoff weight68 t
Delivered80
Boeing 737-600
Seats130
Range3,235 nm
Length31.24 m
Max takeoff weight65.5 t
Delivered69
Airbus A319
Seats124 typical
Range3,750 nm
Length33.84 m
Max takeoff weight75.5 t
Delivered1,484 ceo
The A318 and the 737-600 were the smallest jets of their families, and both sold in small numbers: 80 and 69. The slightly larger A319 and 737-700 sold far more: 1,484 and 1,130.
Routes
Three nonstop routes in range
Istanbul to London
AirportsIST to LHR
Distance1,340 nm
Still-air timeabout 3.0 h
Istanbul to Madrid
AirportsIST to MAD
Distance1,460 nm
Still-air timeabout 3.3 h
Almaty to Istanbul
AirportsALA to IST
Distance2,120 nm
Still-air timeabout 4.7 h
Calculated great-circle distances and still-air times at 448 kn. Real flights depend on winds, payload, routing and fuel reserves. Check any route in the ICCJET Aircraft Route Planner.
FAQ
Airbus A318: questions
How many Airbus A318s were built?
80.
How many seats does an A318 have?
107 in a typical two-class layout, up to 136 at the exit limit.
What is the range of the A318?
3,100 nm (5,700 km).
Which engines does the A318 use?
CFM56-5B or Pratt & Whitney PW6000. PW6000-powered aircraft were retired by 2019.
When did the A318 enter service?
July 2003, with Frontier Airlines.
Charter
Charter with ICCJET
Need the cabin before you buy one? ICCJET arranges charter of business jets, group airliners and cargo aircraft.
Istanbul
AirportsIST · SAW · ISL
Kazakhstan
AirportsALA · NQZ · CIT · GUW
International
DeparturesWorldwide on request
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Specifications are published reference figures. Individual aircraft vary by configuration and modifications. Page checked 16 October 2026.