Airbus A321XLR with Pratt & Whitney engine receives EASA type certification

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Airbus A321XLR with Pratt & Whitney engine receives EASA type certification

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Airbus A321XLR | X

By Sky Industry News

Mar 7, 2025

Airbus announced that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued the Type Certificate for the A321XLR aircraft powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines. The announcement was made on February 21 through their official X account.

According to the official Airbus website, EASA granted them a Type Certificate for their A321XLR aircraft in Cologne and Toulouse. This certification follows the approval of the CFM LEAP-1A-powered A321XLR in July 2024. Airbus said that this milestone clears the way for the first customer deliveries of the Pratt & Whitney-powered A321XLR later this year.

"The A321XLR already displays its great versatility crossing the Atlantic in daily operations," said Christian Scherer, CEO of Commercial Aircraft at Airbus, regarding the aircraft’s operational range. Scherer added that the aircraft enables "new direct city-to-city connections with a heightened level of cabin comfort."

Airbus on certificate | X (Twitter)

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According to Airbus, the A321XLR is designed to provide flexibility for airlines, allowing them to add capacity, open new routes, or continue existing ones when demand fluctuates. The company states that the aircraft burns 30% less fuel per seat compared to previous-generation competitor aircraft.

The A321XLR first flew in June 2022 and underwent an extensive test program involving three test aircraft before its service entry in 2024. Airbus reports that more than 500 units of this model have been ordered to date.

Airbus is a multinational aerospace corporation headquartered in Toulouse, France. According to their website, the company designs, manufactures, and sells commercial and military aircraft, with operations spanning Europe and other global markets.