Airbus A321XLR receives certification ahead of anticipated service launch

Several airlines including United Airlines, American Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Air Canada, and Qantas are also anticipating the delivery of this aircraft. American Airlines specifically requires this model due to their retirement of Boeing 757s, 767s, and Airbus A330s which has limited their transatlantic capacity. Additionally, deliveries of new Boeing 787s have been delayed.

American Airlines plans to use the A321XLR on premium cross-country routes while retrofitting their existing A321T planes back into a standard domestic configuration by removing first class and making coach seating less comfortable. The American Airlines Airbus A321XLR will feature 20 business class suites, 12 premium economy seats, and 123 coach seats. The airline expects delayed deliveries to begin in December 2024 with plans to use these planes for Europe routes by summer 2025.

Historically shared plans indicate that these aircraft will primarily operate from New York JFK and Philadelphia airports but may also fly out of Charlotte and Chicago O’Hare.

Design changes prompted by concerns over the extra center fuel tank have left some uncertainty about range limitations and whether the XLR will meet expectations for operating long-haul routes across the Atlantic. Numerous airlines hope that narrowbody aircraft like the A321XLR can prove profitable in transatlantic operations by turning seasonal routes into year-round services without requiring as many passengers.