It’s a big day for Airbus, as it delivers its first passenger-ready Airbus A321XLR to Iberia.
This is the first of the A321XLR family- the extended long-range variant of the Airbus A320 family, with it able to fly up to 4,700nm – a 15% increase on the current A321LR.
The newly delivered A321XLR to Iberia seats 182 passengers in a two-class layout with lie-flat business class seats with direct aisle access. It is fitted with the new Airspace cabin, helping to provide passengers with long-haul comfort in all classes. These include features such as the XL bins providing 60% more luggage capacity for a more relaxed boarding experience for passengers and cabin crew.
In addition, in-seat connectivity is available for passengers at every seat, and the latest lighting system enhances the overall passenger experience.
Deployment
The aircraft, powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines, will be operated by Iberia on a number of regional flights across the airline’s European network before its first transatlantic mission from Madrid to Boston later in November.
In Quotes
Marco Sansavini, CEO & Chairman at Iberia, said:
“We are very proud to be the launch airline for this new Airbus aircraft. The A321XLR will allow us to reach new destinations, operating transoceanic routes and doing so in a more efficient way.”
Christian Scherer, CEO of Commercial Aircraft at Airbus, said:
“Five years in the making, the newest member of the Airbus family is all set to join its first operator, Iberia. The A321XLR will enable countless new non-stop destinations; it truly opens a new chapter in air connectivity. It is another proud “first” for all of us at Airbus in our constant quest to innovate and bring value to our customers. We are pleased to share this special moment with a special customer: gracias y felicidades Iberia.”
Converting development into practice.
It’s been a five-year development road that has led up to today’s delivery to Iberia. The prototype A321XLR completed its maiden flight in June 2022, followed by an extensive test programme involving three test aircraft.
All the testing and development will now come down to the most important tests – real-world deployment. Iberia has played it safe for the first routes, but with the range of the A321XLR, it will open some possibilities for some interesting “thin and long” routes.
We await the aircraft’s debut into service, as well as how Iberia chooses to deploy it in the longer term.
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