Airbus's A321XLR nabs another airline — and adds 2 new routes to the US. It's changing how people fly long-haul.
Airbus
- Ireland's Aer Lingus is the second airline to receive the new Airbus A321XLR.
- The plane opens new long-haul opportunities, including Dublin to Indianapolis and Nashville.
- Other airlines, including Iberia, United, Qantas, and American are also planning new routes.
The Airbus A321XLR is the European planemaker's latest narrow-body jet, and it's already changing how people fly long-haul.
On Thursday, Ireland's Aer Lingus became the second airline to receive the A321XLR, with Airbus delivering two of the carrier's six that are on order.
Spanish flag carrier Iberia became the plane's first operator in November.
The jet's extra-long-haul capabilities mean Aer Lingus can now operate flights deeper into the US. Two new routes are already scheduled: Flights between Dublin and Nashville will begin in April, and flights between Dublin and Indianapolis will launch in May.
Iberia and Aer Lingus are just the beginning for Airbus's new plane, which has tallied up more than 550 global orders.
American Airlines, Australian flag carrier Qantas, and Hungarian budget carrier Wizz Air all expect to receive the jet next year, followed by United Airlines in early 2026.
And all are expected to launch never-before-flown narrow-body routes across oceans and continents.
Airbus' new A321XLR jet is set to open new route options
The A321XLR is uniquely equipped for long-haul flying, thanks to an extra rear center fuel tank that helps the narrow-body aircraft fly up to 5,400 miles, or 11 hours, nonstop.
That's about 800 miles farther than its Airbus A321LR predecessor. That opens new routes to places previously unreachable with older narrowbodies — or that were unprofitable with a widebody.
Iberia plans to begin a new service using the A321XLR between Madrid and Washington Dulles on January 15. Wizz Air also plans to launch A321XLR routes between London and Saudi Arabia and Milan and Abu Dhabi in 2025.
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In March, American Airlines' managing director of global network planning, Jason Reisinger, said the A321XLR was desirable because it would let the airline serve "routes that cannot support a 787 but where we still have a nice onboard product."
American has since said it plans to launch the A321XLRs on transcontinental routes now served by its A321T.
And the airline's senior vice president of network planning, Brian Znotins, told The Points Guy in November that it plans to also fly its A321XLR fleet to Europe and possibly South America.
Qantas plans to use the A321XLR to fly farther into Asia and the Pacific.
Qantas
United Airlines previously told Business Insider that the A321XLR would replace its aging Boeing 757s and open new routes to places like Northern Italy and West Africa.
Icelandair is also using the A321XLR to replace the 757 and fly farther into North America and Europe from 2029. Boeing never built another version of the popular narrow-body, which ceased production in 2004.
The A321XLR will have varying cabin experiences
Customers can expect varying cabin experiences on board these new versatile single-aisle planes.
Iberia offers lie-flat business class on its A321XLRs, which is typical of what customers find on long-haul widebody flights.
Taylor Rains/Business Insider
Aer Lingus will also have lie-flat business class seats similar to what it already flies on its A321LRs, but some rows won't have direct aisle access.
American plans to install its new Flagship suites on its A321XLRs, while United is also planning a lie-flat business cabin. Qantas will have large reclining loungers in business class.
Wizz will have the least posh cabin. Its no-frills A321XLRs will have cramped seats, no in-flight entertainment, and no freebies like snacks and water.
Its CEO said the experience is something passengers will have to "suffer" through for seven hours for the cheap ticket.