Airbus will add an ultra-long range A321XLR to its best-selling family of single-aisle jets, allowing airlines to open new routes and sharpen competition on existing popular routes such as London-New York.
Long rumoured and recently hinted at by Airbus executives, the A321XLR was formally launched at the start of this week's Paris Air Show and take wing in 2023.
JetBlue may be among the first airlines to fly the long-legged A321XLR, which would complement its trans-Atlantic A321LR services due to launch in 2021.
This continent-striding version of the A320neo family will carry around 200 passengers in a two-class configuration and could shake up and reshape trans-Atlantic travel.
Better NY-London business class fares
Challenger airlines such as JetBlue will drive prices lower, especially in premium business class cabins, while the A321XLR's extended range – pegged at 'up to 4,700nmi' or 8,700km – will also add further-field destinations such as New York to continental Europe.
“London is the biggest opportunity because it has the highest fares, but there would be other opportunities if we had an airplane that had more range," JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes told media earlier this month, citing Brussels and Amsterdam as examples. "The XLR gives us more range."
Another card in the A321XLR's hand: it could open up non-stop flights to and even between smaller cities which couldn't justify larger twin-aisle jets such as the Airbus A330 or Boeing 787 series, and which would otherwise require a stopover.
Airbus says the A321XLR will also "open new world-wide routes such as India to Europe or China to Australia", while other suggested routes include Sydney to Tokyo, London to Miami and New York to Rome.
These direct 'thin' routes would prove a value time- and hassle-saver for business traveller, although passenger comfort will come to the fore: most Australians have spent 90 minutes flying in the single-aisle Boeing 737 between Sydney and Melbourne or Sydney and Brisbane, but typical A321XLR routes could span eight to nine hours.
Airbus will fit the A321XLR with the same Airspace cabin as the twin-aisle A330neo and A350 jets – a package combining a quieter cabin, LED lighting and larger overhead storage bins.
However, the cabin of an A320-series jet is typically pressurised to the equivalent of 7,000-8,000 feet above sea level, compared to an equivalent 6,000 feet for modern jets such as the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787.
That lower effective cabin altitude minimises flight fatigue and plays a part in reducing the impact of jetlag.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
01 Nov 2017
Total posts 1
I have frequently flown QF 737 on 4-6 hour flights and it is not a pleasant experience!
14 Oct 2016
Total posts 105
The 737 is a bit narrower than the a320. I've been in several a320s (ie Asiana) and found the economy comfort to be higher than a wide body.
25 Sep 2013
Total posts 1245
The 4.5h trek from NAN-SYD had me feeling a bit of cabin fever by hour 3...
03 May 2013
Total posts 672
737 like the 777 are abhorrent cramped and loud. Give me an Airbus any day. A380, A350 or 787 in that order.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
05 Oct 2016
Total posts 95
They're joking if they think they'd catch me booking one of them...
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Jul 2015
Total posts 219
The A321T is one I have used often between JFK and LAX. It's OK. The B737 by comparison is not so good. Happy to try it
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
12 Jul 2016
Total posts 27
AKL to Honolulu
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
31 Oct 2016
Total posts 71
bugger that for a joke
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
14 Mar 2017
Total posts 152
This may work if the operator can combine some decent high-value flat beds up the front with sufficient volume down the back. 30% less fuel burn is a lot of $ to play with.
KLM - Flying Blue
05 Feb 2019
Total posts 38
Frequent flyer passengers do not like to cross the ocean inside a narrow-body aircraft
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
21 Jan 2016
Total posts 195
Why do you think Frequent flyer passengers would not cross an ocean inside a narrow-body aircraft ?
Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles
11 Sep 2015
Total posts 8
1. Long bathroom lines
05 Jan 2018
Total posts 58
can almost see mr joyce sharpening his pencil to sign on the dotted line for this 'revolutionary' product...
Qantas
10 Sep 2011
Total posts 162
He has signed up. Converted A320 NEO orders over
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Jan 2015
Total posts 35
It's funny how some people think that this plane will be too small to fly longer routes when the Boeing 757 does it all the time at the moment across the Atlantic with various airlines and the British Airways' even smaller all Business Class (2+2) Airbus A318 flies regularly from London City Airport to New York City and is super popular - And it's funny when everyone wanted to fly on the 747 but always preferred the Upper Deck ( 3+3 economy or 2+2 Business Class) because it was like flying in a "private jet" - which is exactly what it will be like flying on this A321XLR if you are fast asleep in your Business Class bed or indeed even in economy where you will be in your 18in width economy seat compared to your 17in economy seat on the wide body Boeing 787 - so I think nobody needs to worry and everyone will be very happy - especially if airlines such as Jetblue start to bring the price of Business Fares down and offer real competition which this plane is all about. :-)
16 Nov 2018
Total posts 28
If you fly economy, A350 and A321 mean the same to you. 1 or 2 inches on your seat wouldn't make much difference. Surely when A321XLR is scheduled on 9-hour routes, flat bed business seats will be considered by airlines. Staggered 2-2 can give you the aisle access. High frequency wins.
24 Apr 2015
Total posts 128
just like the B787, another hub buster.
Air Canada - Aeroplan
02 Sep 2015
Total posts 16
While the A321 is classed as narrow body it should be noted that its fuselage width is 7 in wider than the B707 , which was continued in 727,737 and 757. In fact the A321XLR looks like a 707 with half the fuel burn. Sounds much better than 10 abreast in 777 !
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