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An advanced single-aisle aircraft, designed for long-haul routes, made its inaugural flight on Thursday, flying from Madrid to Boston. The sleek, fuel-efficient Airbus A321XLR, equipped with a third fuel tank for extended range, completed its maiden journey with Iberia Airlines.
The A321XLR, standing for "Xtra Long Range," is the longest-range commercial aircraft in its class, capable of flying up to about 8,700 km. This is slightly more than the distance from New York to Istanbul. Airbus claims the A321XLR uses 30 per cent less fuel per seat compared to previous aircraft models, making it an economical choice for airlines and a more sustainable option for long-distance flights.
With its impressive range, the A321XLR opens up new possibilities for airlines to operate routes previously considered impractical with larger, less efficient planes. Irish airline Aer Lingus plans to use the aircraft for new long-haul services, including routes from Dublin to Nashville and Indianapolis, next year.
Aviation expert Miquel Ros, who previewed the A321XLR on the ground, focussed on the cabin's balance between space and efficiency. He described the business class seats as “slightly narrower than the ones on the airline's twin-aisle aircraft, but they still offer a clearly differentiated premium experience as well as the ability to sleep flat,” CNN reported.
Mr Ros also said the “economy class offers a pitch similar to that found on larger aircraft types as well as the same inflight entertainment system.” He praised the two “state-of-the-art” food galleys, designed to accommodate the aircraft's smaller cabin.
The A321XLR's ability to access lesser-known destinations could help ease the pressure on some of the world's most visited tourist spots, which are struggling with overcrowding.
The launch of the A321XLR is not the only exciting news in the aviation industry. Singapore Airlines is retrofitting its Airbus A350-900s, which operate the world's longest nonstop flights between Singapore and New York. The retrofit will include first-class seats on select aircraft.
