The A321XLR, the new Airbus, made its inaugural flight last week with European airline Iberia from Madrid to Boston. The XLR stands for “Xtra Long Range,” and this slimline plane will improve the long-haul route landscape around the world. Not only does it burn considerably less fuel than its rivals, but it will also expand the possibilities of reaching places off the beaten track that are currently only accessible by domestic carriers.
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The New Airbus Plane Will Make It Easier (and Cheaper) to Fly to Lesser-Visited Destinations
The A321XLR has a narrow body and an incredible range. It has a single aisle, two-class format seating around 180 to 200 passengers, similar to what you’d expect from a typical domestic aircraft. But this small plane can reach up to 4,700 nautical miles, or 8,700 kilometers, without refueling. And while that’s still quite a bit of the range of the type of aircraft you’ll be used to flying long haul, like the wide-bodied A350 900, which has a range of around 15,000 kilometers, the A321XLR will allow airlines to operate non-stop flights on routes that were previously impractical for single-aisle aircraft.
It also consumes significantly less fuel per seat than older-generation aircraft, making it a more environmentally friendly option. According to CNN, the Airbus “burns 30 percent less fuel per seat than previous-generation aircraft,” the now-combersome A321 NEO. Reduced fuel consumption also lowers airline operating costs, potentially leading to more competitive passenger fares. And because we “know” this design — it’s part of the A321 family — most of us will be familiar with the layout and space restrictions, so you’ll not get any huge unwelcome surprises.
This is all extremely exciting not just for aviation nerds but also for travelers looking to visit more off-the-beaten-track destinations. The aircraft will be able to connect cities that were previously inaccessible to single-aisle planes.
The Spanish flag carrier, Iberia, took delivery of the revolutionary aircraft in late October and wasted no time putting it to use. On November 13, Iberia’s inaugural A321XLR flight departed from Madrid-Barajas Airport, bound for Boston Logan International Airport.
For Iberia, the A321XLR represents a strategic investment in its long-haul fleet. The airline plans to utilize the aircraft on routes between its Madrid hub and various destinations in the United States, including Boston and Washington, D.C. These routes, traditionally served by wide-body aircraft, will now be operated by the more fuel-efficient and cost-effective A321XLR.
Several other carriers have placed large orders for this cutting-edge aircraft, recognizing its potential to transform operations. United Airlines, American Airlines, JetBlue, and IndiGo (India’s largest low-cost carrier) will add the A321XLR to fleets as soon as possible.
All of this buzz translates to more direct flights on longer routes. JetBlue can fly the A321XLR from New York to London, and connections to many other major European hubs are also now possible. Cities such as Santiago in Chile and Buenos Aires will have better US southern connections; European airlines will be able to reach the Middle East and India; and from Asia, transpacific routes like Tokyo to San Francisco could be directly linked by the A321XLR.
There’s also a discussion about how the Airbus will help with over-tourism. This year, Matador reported that airlines such as Japan Air tried to tackle this problem by offering complimentary domestic flights to encourage travelers to explore lesser-visited destinations. The A321XLR could take the strain off overcrowded travel hubs, flying passengers directly to smaller destinations and redirecting the flow of tourists away from capitals that are currently struggling with high-season footfall. 