The Airbus A321XLR, the latest addition to the A321neo family, has been making waves in the aviation industry since its first revenue-generating flight in November 2024. Known for being the world's longest-range narrowbody aircraft, it surpasses its predecessor, the Airbus A321LR, which entered service in 2015.
This new aircraft variant offers a range of up to 4,700 nautical miles, outpacing even the longest variant of Boeing's 737 MAX family. The A321XLR has already attracted significant interest from airlines worldwide, with over 550 orders from 25 customers including American Airlines, Iberia (the launch customer), JetBlue, and Icelandair.
Icelandair plans to replace its aging Boeing 757-200s and 757-300s with the XLR. This shift is part of a broader trend as airlines look to capitalize on the XLR's capabilities. "As part of our Australian domestic fleet renewal program," Qantas announced that they have ordered "28 new spacious and modern Airbus A321XLR aircraft."