Why no A319-200?

[Peter Kesternich]

I'm not sure if this is a stupid question after all, but during my latest round of photo editing, I was wondering why there were A320s in a -100 and -200 version, as well as 100s and 200s on the A321 when at the same time the A319 is only available in a -100 variant. Maybe somebody could shed some light on this. Thanks in advance.

(Yes, I know that the A318 also comes only as a -100, but then again the A318 program is virtually dead, so no need to develop any further versions of this aircraft.)

[SAMRPICS]

Its an interesting one this Peter and i think it stems down to a few different things. There were very few A320-100s built as Airbus figured out very quickly ways to make the A320-100 better. The new model was different enough to be given a different model number. This said i dont quite follow why the new A320s with sharklets isn't a A320-300. As for the A321 i think the difference is the range of the A321s. The A321 is an improved A321 with better range than the original A321-100s. Something the A319 has never had a problem with as it has great range for its size. You also have to remember that Airbus did make several longer range A319s but these also carried the A319-100 model number albeit with the LR tagged on the end.

Not really sure why Airbus hasnt released a 200 series A319 although with the NEO's coming along for all of the A320 family i highly doubt we will see one in this generation of A319s.