N968NK

This airframe, registered as N968NK, is an Airbus A320-271N built in 2022 with manufacturer serial number 11151. The aircraft is owned by SMBC Aviation Capital, a Dublin, IE–based corporation, and is registered in the US; the transaction placing the airframe into the SMBC portfolio represents the aircraft's primary recorded ownership history. As a relatively recent delivery from Airbus SE, this unit reflects modern A320neo-family specification and is noted as a fixed-wing multi-engine, single-aisle airliner in standard powered condition. No separate public valuation has been published for this specific airframe beyond corporate asset records.

The aircraft is fitted in a high-density Spirit configuration with a total of 182 seats arranged as 8 Big Front + 174 Economy / Deluxe Leather, reflecting a carrier-style, high-capacity short- to medium-haul layout. The flight deck is the Airbus standard glass cockpit for the type, marketed as Airspace / A320 family flight deck, providing common-type pilot interfaces and avionics for fleet flexibility. With a design range of 3,500 nm and cruise speed near 450 kts, typical mission profiles for this airframe include transcontinental and regional trunk routes within North America and between nearby international markets. Maintenance considerations align with contemporary A320neo series practices, including monitoring of geared turbofan (PW1127G-JM) health and adherence to manufacturer service bulletins; corporate lessor ownership suggests routine, asset-oriented maintenance and leasing-cycle preparations.

The Airbus A320-271N occupies the single-aisle, fuel-efficient niche introduced by the A320neo family, emphasizing lower fuel burn and reduced operating cost relative to legacy A320ceo models. Competing types include modern single-aisle variants from rival OEMs offering similar seating and range, where buyer and lessee demand focuses on fleet commonality and route economics. For an asset like N968NK, resale and lease prospects are supported by recent build year (2022), common cockpit systems, and the PW1127G-JM engine choice, though considerations such as high-density cabin fit and regional demand cycles will influence remarketing and residual value.