- The Airbus A321XLR is revolutionizing long-haul travel with its 11-hour range.
- The versatile jet can reach far-away places and fit into mainline and budget business models.
- Launch customer Iberia and soon-to-be A321XLR operator Wizz Air have very different cabin approaches.
The Airbus A321XLR is the European manufacturer’s latest long-haul, narrow-body plane.
With its 11-hour range and smaller size, the jet is set to revolutionize how people travel.
Airlines can now more easily fly to lower-demand markets previously unprofitable with a widebody or to far-away places previously unreachable with other single-aisle planes.
The A321XLR first entered service with Spanish flag carrier Iberia in November. The airline flew seven hours from Madrid to Boston, equipping the plane with lie-flat business class and economy.
With 550 orders, the plane has garnered interest from both mainline and budget carriers — but not all experiences will be equal.
European budget carrier Wizz Air is not far behind Iberia, with its first A321XLR expected to trek seven hours from London to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, starting in March — but it won’t be close to high-end.
The two carrier’s plans for their new planes showcase the model’s versatility.