Airbus started the first week of May with a bang: following the confirmation of the agreement with Qantas for the 12 A350-1000s for Project Sunrise and the extension of the A321XLR order for the Australian operator, the company’s first narrowbody rolled out of the paint shop.
The A321XLR, for eXtra Long Range, is set to make its debut in the second quarter of this year, completing its certification process and targeting entry into service in 2023.
The company posted on its social networks a video of the aircraft’s painting process:
Behold the #A321XLR proudly rolling out of our paintshop!
Here’s to more ????citing ????andmarks within ????each! pic.twitter.com/qeudFaYQK3— Airbus (@Airbus) May 2, 2022
Its range of 8,700 km makes it possible to connect, for example, Miami – Buenos Aires; New York – Rome; London – New Delhi or São Paulo – Lisbon.
The model will be present in a variety of customers looking to increase the transatlantic market in point-to-point routes: American Airlines and United Airlines, Aer Lingus, JetBlue, Iberia or more recently Air Canada.
Middle East Airlines, Flynas, Saudia, Air Arabia aim to expand their presence in Southeast Asia and Africa. India-based IndiGo plans to land in Europe with the model.
VietJet Air, Air Asia X and Cebu Pacific will allow them to land in Australia or expand secondary markets in India or the Middle East.
JetSMART and SKY Airline will be the launch customers in Latin America and the Caribbean, planning to land in Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean from Argentina, Chile, and Peru.
Frontier Airlines is the only U.S. carrier planning to use the A321XLR in markets south of Latin America.
Wizz Air will be the largest European operator of the A321XLR to date, but where the carrier will use it is a mystery.
