Airbus delivers first A321XLR jet to Spain's Iberia

PARIS (Reuters) -Airbus has delivered its first A321XLR, the industry's longest-range single-aisle jet, after Spanish airline Iberia took ownership of the plane, the European planemaker said on Wednesday.

The plane, which took five years to develop and targets a market previously served by Boeing (NYSE:BA )'s out-of-production 757 or larger wide-bodies, was handed over late on Tuesday and was due to fly to Madrid on Wednesday, according to Flightradar24 data.

The delivery, first reported by Reuters on Tuesday, highlights a drive by Airbus and Boeing to extend the performance of the industry's best-selling single-aisle jets.

Launched in 2019 to steal a march on Boeing's plans at the time to build a new jet in the middle of the market, the A321XLR targets a gap left by the out-of-production Boeing 757, where the A321 family outsells the largest versions of the 737 MAX.

It features a novel type of fuel tank, moulded into the fuselage to eke out more space for fuel and extend the range.

The design initially raised concerns about the risk of fire and evacuation times in the event of an accident, prompting design changes before it could be certified.

Analysts say the resulting extra weight chipped away at its maximum range, though Airbus says it will still allow airlines to open up new routes for such relatively small planes, like New York to Hamburg or Chicago to Milan.

The planemaker said it had sold more than 500 A321XLR jets.

Boeing has said the XLR addresses only a small niche in the overall market for single-aisle jets, the busiest part of the industry, which it pegs at 33,380 aircraft over 20 years.

The arrival of a new model also highlights industry efforts to fly more efficiently and burn less fuel.

Iberia said on its website that the arrival of the A321XLR would help it comply with its environmental commitments, part of an industry-wide effort to eliminate net CO2 emissions by 2050.



The latest generation of Airbus and Boeing jets use recently developed engines that the industry says will burn 15-20% less fuel than the previous generation.

The jet delivered to Iberia is powered by LEAP engines from CFM International, owned by GE Aerospace and Safran (EPA:SAF ). RTX unit Pratt & Whitney also offers engines for the jet.

Source: Investing.com