American Airlines has added the newly introduced Airbus A321XLR to its fleet plans. The carrier converted an existing order for 30 A321neo aircraft into A321XLRs and placed a fresh order for 20 more A321XLRs, bringing its total commitment to 50 of the longer-range single-aisle jets.
Unveiled by Airbus at the Paris Air Show last month, the A321XLR offers an extended range of approximately 8,700 kilometers — about 15% farther than the A321LR — making it the longest-range aircraft in the single-aisle category. Airbus says this capability will enable airlines to connect U.S. East Coast airports with medium-sized cities in Europe without the need for widebody aircraft.
Several other carriers have also expressed interest in the type, with recent orders announced by airlines such as Aer Lingus, Iberia and Qantas.
American Airlines is one of the largest operators of Airbus aircraft worldwide. The airline currently operates 422 Airbus aircraft and has outstanding orders that include 115 A321neo and A321XLR family jets.
Airbus plans to begin delivering the A321XLR to customers starting in 2023, allowing airlines to deploy the type on longer thin- to medium-density international routes and expand point-to-point service options.