Iberia’s first Airbus A321XLR was spotted in Hamburg-Finkenwerder
This week, it has been sighted in Hamburg-Finkenwerderone of the production plants of the Airbus A320neo family, the first A321XLR from Iberia and the second from International Airlines Group (IAG).
According to the record, this XLR has production number 11504 and it will be one of the three aircraft that IAG will receive. Airbus indicated that the first operators will be Aer Lingus and Iberia, scheduled for sometime in the second half of 2024.
See also: The Airbus A321XLR is presented in Spain before Iberia
According to the Airbus order book, Aer Lingus and Iberia have each ordered eight A321XLRs, with the option of 14 additional aircraft distributed between both companies. These airlines plan to use them on key routes to the east coast of the United States and Canada. Iberia’s first A321XLR. Photo: Tobias GudatIberia currently operates flights to the east coast of the United States, covering cities such as Boston, New York and Washington. These routes are served by Airbus A330-200/-300 aircraft, which could be replaced by the A321XLR in the future, given their adequate autonomy for these routes. Additionally, the company announced plans to introduce flights to Philadelphia and Baltimore with this new model.
Airbus’ commitment to the A321XLR
He Airbus A321XLR, an evolution of the successful A321neo, is in the final stages of its certification. This last week it has been subjected to intensive tests under the supervision of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), evaluating the functionality and reliability of its systems.
See also: Airbus advances in the historic certification of the A321XLR
The main objective of these tests is to demonstrate that the aircraft systems are practical, reliable and effective under normal service conditions, which refers to “systems maturity”. The tests include 100 hours of flight on ten consecutive days without shutting down the systems.
He Airbus A321XLR stands out for its range capacity, thanks to a central rear tank that houses up to 12,900 liters of fuel. With an additional central tank, this model can reach up to 4,700 nautical miles (8,700 kilometers) or 11 hours of non-stop flight.
See also: (Not so) Extra Long Range: Airbus A321XLR design adjustments could affect planned range
