American Airlines will become the first U.S. airline to fly the Airbus A321XLR when it debuts the long-range narrowbody aircraft on Dec. 18, the carrier said.
The A321XLR is a single-aisle jet capable of flying up to 4,700 nautical miles, allowing airlines to operate nonstop routes to smaller cities that cannot support widebody aircraft. American will use the plane to connect U.S. cities with secondary European markets and eventually destinations in South America and Africa.
The aircraft will carry 155 passengers across three cabins: 20 Flagship Suite business class seats, 12 premium economy seats and 123 main cabin seats. This is down from 190 seats on American’s standard A321 jets.
Each Flagship Suite features a lie-flat bed with a door, direct aisle access and a window. The doors are not yet FAA-certified but are expected to be approved soon. Premium economy, which American has never offered on a single-aisle plane, includes footrests, legrests and larger screens.
Economy seats feature USB-A and USB-C ports and Bluetooth audio connectivity.
The XLR will debut on the JFK-LAX route before expanding to transcontinental flights and international service to cities including Edinburgh, Scotland. American’s chief commercial officer Nat Pieper said the aircraft is part of an effort to make the airline “more streamlined and predictable” for travelers.
American ordered 50 A321XLRs in 2021, including 30 conversions from existing A321neo orders and 20 additional aircraft. The carrier plans to have 40 of the aircraft in service by 2030.
The A321XLR has a maximum takeoff weight of 101 metric tons and extends the range of Airbus’ A321neo family. The aircraft allows airlines to operate point-to-point service on routes that previously required larger widebody jets or connecting flights.
