But in the coming months, U.S. travelers can expect to see a lot more of the plane.
Last week, Iberia's parent company confirmed the Madrid-based airline expects to receive seven additional A321XLRs delivered by Airbus in 2025. And the company made notable mention of where those new planes will fly.
"All of them [are] to be deployed to the U.S.," an earnings report published by International Airlines Group said.
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BEN SMITHSON/THE POINTS GUYBig future plans for the A321XLR
Indeed, Iberia sees the fuel-efficient narrow-body jets as a linchpin of its future service between Spain and the East Coast.
With a lower passenger count and a lower cost to operate than a wide-body jet, the all-new aircraft type has airlines all excited about the opportunities it presents. With it, carriers have a financially less risky way to launch new, less traditional routes — including off-the-beaten-path flights that a large Boeing 777 or Airbus A350 couldn't possibly support.
The aircraft can also allow carriers to keep flying routes during the lower- demand winter months.
Look no further than Iberia's service this winter to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), where the Spanish airline's first long-haul A321XLR flight landed in November.
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