Type certification has been granted to the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-powered Airbus A321neo by the European Aviation Safety Agency and US Federal Aviation Administration.

Disclosing the approval, Airbus says the aircraft had completed a certification programme accumulating over 350 flight hours across more than 130 flights, validating the airframe and systems "well beyond their design limits" to ensure the jet met all airworthiness criteria.

"The campaign also confirmed the aircraft is meeting its performance targets in terms of fuel burn and range," adds Airbus.

The CFM International Leap-1A-powered version of the A321neo will be certificated "in the coming months", the airframer indicates.