Star Alliance member United Airlines will now see the Airbus A321XLR enter its fleet in January 2026. This aircraft is expected to replace the airline’s aging Boeing 757 fleet.
Patrick Quayle, who is United’s Senior Vice President of global network planning and alliances, announced in a call with reporters on October 9 that the XLR does not play a major role in the planned network expansion announced for next spring, which will see several new routes, including Greenland and Mongolia.
50 x A321XLR ordered in 2019
In December 2019, United ordered 50 examples of the A321XLR, destined to aid the airline in unlocking new routes to ‘off the beaten path’ destinations and replacing the aging and fuel-inefficient Boeing 757-200.
Photo: Photofex_AUT | Shutterstock
Airbus secured certification for the XLR in Europe, including the CFM International Leap-1A version, in late July. However, certification for the P&W PW1100G-powered version is expected before the end of this year.
While still using the same A320neo body, the XLR is a leap forward compared to the original A321 capabilities. It can carry up to 244 passengers and has a maximum range of 4,700 NM (8,700 km), a 35% increase over the already market-leading A321neo. It achieves this extra range by adding a permanent rear-center cargo fuel tank, which will hold around 12,900 liters (3,400 US gal) of fuel. It also has a 30% reduced fuel burn compared to the previous generation of competitors. Airbus confirmed that the type already has over 550 orders from 25 different airlines
Twenty-five airlines have ordered more than 550 Airbus A321XLRs, and the first commercial flights are just two months away.
Opening up a new world of destinations
Other airlines are already looking to the skies for where they can deploy their XLR, such as Aer Lingus, which recently announced its plans to serve Nashville, Tennessee, directly from Dublin next summer. IAG is expected to be the first customer to receive the XLR; imminent delivery is scheduled for its Spanish subsidiary, Iberia.
When IAG placed its A321XLR order, the original plan was for Aer Lingus to make the first commercial flight with the aircraft. However, that has now changed, and Iberia will be the first airline in the world to fly the A321XLR. The carrier is currently offering flights on the type from Madrid (MAD) to Boston (BOS) from November 14th, with a service that will include 14 lie-flat seats in business class.
Photo: Aer Lingus
For several carriers, such as United, the A321XLR is an obvious replacement for the B757 in their fleets. In contrast, for others, it will provide a more economical option for flying routes that currently serve under-capacity A330s, B767s, and B787s.
A game changer for ‘long and thin’ routes
United has been patiently waiting for the evolution of the A321XLR, an ultra-long-range, narrowbody, and more fuel-efficient aircraft. While it was expected to enter service this year, the Chicago-based airline will have to wait patiently, even through 2025, until it receives its first type of aircraft.
For United, it is expected that the A321XLR will be deployed on new and existing routes across destinations, including those in Europe and Latin America. Given their capacity, you could expect these aircraft on ‘long and thin’ routes, such as Newark to Bogota or Washington to Edinburgh. While the airline will use the A321XLR to replace the 757-200s, new destinations are also expected, that wouldn’t have been financially viable if operated with the 757s.
United plans to have 50 Airbus A321XLRs, with the first aircraft due to enter service in 2025. Naturally, the carrier said they’ll partly replace the Boeing 757-200ER, including to Europe. Unlike the A321LR, a variant United does not have and has not ordered, the XLR is a true 757 replacement – just with a longer range and much better fuel burn.The XLR may also help United to make some seasonal routes year-round while right-sizing capacity with demand on others, freeing up other equipment to be used elsewhere. It may also enable higher frequencies.More interesting are new route possibilities. While necessarily vague, United said, “The XLR can fly much further [than the 757] and will open new stations that either don’t have service from an airline today [from the US], or they don’t have United service.” Where would you like the carrier to fly the type? Let us know!
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Publish date : 2024-10-12 11:12:00
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