24/04/2026
time! Did you know Airbus skipped certain Manufacturer Serial Numbers (MSNs) before reaching MSN 10000?
While the 10,000th A320 family aircraft (delivered to Middle East Airlines in 2020) marked a significant milestone, it did not mean exactly 10,000 aircraft had been built up to that point.
Key details on Airbus MSN skipping and allocation include:
Unused Numbers: The range between MSN 9600 and 9900 was not used in the final production sequence.
"Virtual" or Test MSNs: Some MSNs are allocated to aircraft that are ordered but never built (white tails, cancelled orders), or used as test numbers to prepare for the 5-digit MSN format.
Strategic 5-Digit Shift: Airbus began switching to a 5-digit MSN format (e.g., 10000) for the A320neo family well before the actual production numbers reached that point, updating software and documentation for compliance.
Therefore, while MSN 10000 was ceremonially delivered, it was achieved by skipping several hundred numbers, with actual production and delivery numbers being lower than 10,000 at the time of that delivery.
Now you know!
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