How fast does an Airbus A320 land?

On a commercial jet there is no single landing speed, but an approach speed calculated for each flight. On the A320 family, the flight management computer starts from VLS, the minimum selectable speed in landing configuration, and adds a wind correction of between 5 and 15 kn to get VAPP, which the crew holds from final approach to the threshold. With flaps in the FULL position, a typical A320 approaches at between 130 and 140 kn (240-260 km/h) and touches down a few knots below that, after the flare and thrust reduction.

Speed increases with the square root of weight: an A320 arriving nearly empty can approach below 125 kn, while near maximum landing weight, around 65 tonnes, it exceeds 140 kn. Configuration matters too: landing with flaps 3 instead of FULL, common in turbulence or wind shear conditions, adds several knots. A headwind increases the target indicated airspeed but reduces groundspeed, which is what determines the landing roll. The heavier A321 approaches somewhat faster than the A319, though it follows the same procedure.

VLS keeps a 23% margin above stall speed, so that a gust or an abrupt maneuver doesn't leave the aircraft without lift a few meters above the ground. Flying slower would shorten the required runway, but it would compromise that margin. That's why the A320 has flight envelope protections that prevent the speed from dropping below a safe threshold even if the pilot pulls back on the stick.