Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus took delivery of its first A321XLR aircraft in December 2024. Aer Lingus is now the second operator of the type after Iberia. In this blog post I take a look at the aircraft and how the aircraft will fit into the Aer Lingus route schedule.
In December 2024, Airbus delivered two A321XLR aircraft to Aer Lingus in one day. Both aircraft were delivered on 18th December 2024. The aircraft have registration EI-XLR and EI-XLT. The aircraft flew from Airbus's facility in Hamburg and landed at Dublin Airport.
These aircraft are the first two A321XLR aircraft to be delivered to the Irish carrier which has a total of 6 on order. Iberia received the first A321XLR earlier in 2024. Aer Lingus was meant to be the launch customer of the type but due to pilot strikes at Aer Lingus it went to fellow IAG airline Iberia instead. Aer Lingus will use the planes for both its European routes and some north American destinations and these aircraft will likely be used to launch flights from Dublin to Nashville and Indianapolis in 2025.
The A321XLR has a greater range than the A321neoLR which Aer Lingus operates on flights to some north American east coast destinations. Airbus states that the A321XLR has a range of up to 8,700Km and a seating capacity of 180-244 passengers. Additionally, the aircraft has 30% lower fuel burn and CO2 emissions compared to previous generation aircraft. These improvements will allow Aer Lingus to launch longer distance transatlantic routes due to its increased range. The aircraft will also allow the airline to have lower operating costs and allow flexibility on its routes.
The delivery of the first two A321XLR aircraft to Aer Lingus is an important milestone for the airline, allowing it to extend its transatlantic and European offerings while helping the airline become more sustainable. Have you flown on the A321XLR yet? Where do you think Aer Lingus could fly the type? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below, on the forum or on social media.
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