The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued the type certificate for the Airbus A321XLR powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines.
The award follows the certification of the CFM LEAP-1A powered A321XLR in July last year and paves the way for the first customer aircraft with Pratt & Whitney engines to enter into service later this year.
The A321XLR (Xtra Long Range) is an extra-long-range version of the A320neo. The aircraft has an extended range of 8,700km (5,400 miles) thanks to a new fuel tank located at the back of the aircraft and modified landing gear to support its increased weight.
The twinjet aircraft can fly 15% further than the current longest-range A320 variant, the A321LR, which has a range of 7,400km (4,600 miles).
Christian Scherer, CEO of commercial aircraft at Airbus said, “With the certification and entry-into-service of the GTF-powered A321XLR we will see more operators introduce this aircraft. It is also good news for our customers’ passengers who will benefit from the convenience of new direct city-to-city connections with a heightened level of cabin comfort.”
The A321XLR sits side by side with widebodies in an airline’s fleet. It introduces the flexibility to add capacity, to open new routes, or to continue operating existing ones when demand is variable. This is all while burning 30% less fuel per seat than previous generation competitor aircraft, says Airbus. The A321XLR also features Airbus’ new Airspace cabin.
The first A321XLR made its maiden flight in June 2022. This was followed by a flight test program involving three test aircraft. In 2024, the A321XLR entered into service. So far more than 500 Airbus A321XLRs have been ordered.
