The longest-range Airbus narrowbody has received certification from the European safety authority EASA.
After a five-year process, the regulatory body certified the version of the Airbus A321XLR (extralong-range) aircraft that will be powered by a CFM International Leap engine. Airbus is still working toward EASA certification of the A321XLRs powered by Pratt and Whitney engines.
Both versions of the planes are also still awaiting FAA certification.
Iberia is the launch partner of the long-range narrowbody and has announced its intent to utilize the aircraft on flights to Boston and Washington Dulles during the coming winter.
Overall, Airbus has received more than 500 orders and commitments for XLR planes, including 50 orders each from American and United and 13 orders from JetBlue.
Each of those airlines envision using the aircraft on transatlantic city pairs, connecting markets on or relatively near the East Coast to medium-sized European cities on routes that would not likely have the demand to support twin-aisle operations. Alternatively, carriers will be able to use the planes to offer more frequencies on designated routes, rather than flying fewer roundtrips on widebody aircraft.
Airbus says the A321XLR will have a maximum range of 4,700 nautical miles, 15% farther than the A321LR, which entered service in 2018.
The plane will carry 180 to 220 passengers in typical two-class configuration. Fuel burn, Airbus says, will be 30% less than for previous generation Boeing aircraft.