As yet, no deal has been confirmed, but talks are definitely underway between American Airlines and Airbus with regards to an order of up to 50 new A321XLR jets. These jets are the longest range single aisle planes ever launched and they bring great benefits for fuel economy. On a per-seat basis, it is believed the fuel saving could be in the region of 30%. In these times of increasing fuel prices, this is going to generate significant savings for any airline, and so it makes sense that American Airlines would want to use these super efficient jets, especially as it has been focusing on modernizing its fleet over the last few years.
Potential benefits of the Airbus A321XLR for passengers
So will this be of any benefit to passengers? Well, of course if an airline saves money, there’s always the chance that this will eventually filter through to lower ticket prices, which is always a bonus for travelers, but these new jets could also open up more convenient travel opportunities. Airlines can and do drop long distance routes that are not hugely popular, which can be incredibly annoying for those of us who do want to fly them! The problem always was, that it was necessary to use a larger wide body aircraft for these routes. But now with the launch of the A321XLR, these routes become possible for the smaller, narrower aircraft making it much more economical. We could well see more routes opening up in the future, and the resurgence of some routes that have been lost over the last few years. Passenger comfort levels are also good on these new planes, so the flight experience should remain very similar for all seat classes.
When will we hear more about the Airbus A321XLR?
Obviously with such an interesting deal, we’re all keen to hear when a decision has been made. It is being speculated that perhaps the Paris Air Show, the world’s leading aviation event, would be a fitting place to release the news, and it’s now underway. However, this is only speculation as American Airlines actually has no confirmed official presence at the show this time around.
The Airbus A321XLR is a boost for Airbus and a blow for Boeing
If America’s largest airline does place an order, as seems likely, this will be great news for Airbus and yet another kick to Boeing. A company that is already struggling due to the grounding of its previously top-selling 737 Max which has been fraught with problems and has been subject to some incredibly serious safety concerns. Besides, the announcement of the launch date of the NMA, also known as Boeing 797, has been postponed.
So far… no comment
As yet, neither American Airlines nor Airbus are commenting either way. It could be that a deal is still in the discussion phase, or perhaps they’re keeping quiet in order to make a huge public announcement at a time and place of their choosing. Either way, keep checking back and we’ll let you know as soon as we do!
Based in Barcelona when she’s not traveling, Jen is a travel blogger and photographer. She loves inspiring people to travel and discover the world. An ex-flight attendant, Jen has expertise in the airline industry.
