Airbus launched its long-awaited new airliner – the Airbus A321XLR – at the recent Paris Air Show. It was generally accepted to have been the biggest hit of the whole show. The new long-range plane almost immediately received 50 orders from American Airlines. This came on top of several other large orders, and it has just been announced that the A321XLR already has 191 orders.
So what is so special about this new aircraft, and how does it compare with other A321 versions? Why does everyone want to buy it? And what could it mean for Airbus’s competitors, Boeing in particular.
What is special about the Airbus A321XLR?
The A321XLR is at present the world’s longest range single-aisle aircraft. The A321 neo (new engine option) reduced fuel burn and extended the range of the A321, and the development of this new aircraft has further increased the range. The new aircraft will be able to accommodate 220 passengers, and will have a range of 4700 nautical miles. This is an improvement in range of 15% from the A321neo to the A321XL and finally to the A321XLR. The new aircraft can also be fitted with an additional fuel tank to improve performance. And the main landing gear has been strengthened to better help the aircraft take off and land with this extra weight. Some modifications were also made to the trailing wing-flap to further improve performance.
However, despite all these advantages, some sources question whether the new plane will be popular with passengers and crews. Being single-aisle, it is not all that spacious, so could be unpopular on longer flights for both passengers and cabin crew. After all, who wants to spend ten hours or more in a plane with only one aisle and relatively narrow seats? On the other hand, passengers may prefer the option of one flight in this relatively small plane, to having to make a connection when using a wide-body aircraft.
Which airlines have the Airbus A321XLR?
Airlines seem to have fewer doubts, and there have already been a huge number of sales for the Airbus A321XLR.
- Air Lease Corporation ordered 27 A321XLRs at the Paris Air Show.
- Middle East Airlines ordered four A321XLRs.
- IAG, the owner of British Airways and Iberia, confirmed that they paid a $142 million list price for 28 A321XLRs. They said that eight would be for Iberia, six for Aer Lingus, plus 14 options to spread amongst their fleet.
- Qantas will order 36 A321XLR’s, to be operated on routes between Australia and Asia to minor destinations, and wants to be one of the launch customers.
- Indigo Group ordered 50 aircraft. The low-cost-carrier giant has decided to expand its operations across the Pacific and Atlantic, opening routes from USA to Hawaii and Europe. Specifically, they will give 20 A321XLRs to Wizz Air, 18 to Frontier and 12 to JetSmart.
- American Airlines made a a similar order of 50 A321XLRs, to replace their aging fleet of Boeing 757s.
This is all quite something for an extremely new airliner!
Airbus vs Boeing
How the popularity of the new aircraft will affect other manufacturers, in particular Boeing, remains to be seen. The plane is already being widely seen as a threat to Boeing’s still non-existent NMA B797. Of course, until recently an announcement about this aircraft was expected at the Paris Air show, but Boeing is holding back, probably due to its ongoing issues with the B737 MAX. It is also thought that the new A321XLR may affect sales of older aircraft like the Boeing 747.
Does Airbus A321XLR competes with Boeing 797?
Many experts in fact see the A321XLR as a direct assault on Boeing. They say the A321XLR has pulled ahead of its presumed rival, the Boeing NMA, or even killed it off altogether. But Boeing is retaliating, claiming the A321XLR addresses “only a small sliver of the market” for a new mid-sized airplane. And, of course, the real demand for mid-size aircraft which can fly easily into smaller airports is not guaranteed. So it will be interesting to see how things develop in the near future.
Helen is a retired pilot and flight instructor who has traveled around the world and visited more than 70 countries. An award-winning journalist and author, she has been writing for world-class aviation-focused publications.
