Airbus A318
The "Baby Bus" — smallest of the family, certified for steep approaches · First flight 2002 · In service 2003
The A318 was launched on 26 April 1999 as a further shrink of the A319, with a taller fin. It first flew on 15 January 2002 and Frontier Airlines took the first delivery on 22 July 2003, but slow post-9/11 demand, cancellations and thirsty early engines limited sales to just 80 aircraft.
In 2006 EASA cleared it for steep approaches of up to 5.5° instead of the usual 3°. British Airways used that to fly a 32-seat, all-business A318 from London City to New York JFK from 2009, refuelling westbound at Shannon because of the short City runway.
Air France, once its largest operator, is now the last airline flying the type; its market has passed to the Airbus A220.
