Tag Archives: Airbus A321LR

SAS’ brand new Airbus A321LR enters service

SAS’ first Airbus A321LR Long Range will complete its first long-haul flight on Wednesday, December 22, 2021 from Copenhagen to Washington (Dulles(. It will enter official service on March 27, 2022.

The new aircraft is equipped with a service concept with three travel classes, like the rest of SAS’ long-haul fleet, and will increase SAS’ flexibility to meet Scandinavian travel patterns. The A321LR is part of SAS’ ongoing fleet renewal and will reduce climate-impacting emissions in comparison to previous generations of similar aircraft.

Photographer Andy Prhat

This narrow-body, single aisled aircraft is specially configured to fly longer distances than a standard A321neo. The smaller aircraft gives SAS the opportunity to fill the aircraft on new routes and will be a welcome addition to the SAS long haul fleet. The A321LR will increase the SAS’ flexibility to adjust to changes in the demand for new routes and destinations.

Photographer Andy Prhat

The A321LR is part of the latest generation of aircraft and is expected to reduce climate-impacting emissions by around the same amount as when SAS introduced the A320neo, whose carbon footprint is approximately 15-18 percent smaller than an equivalent size aircraft from the previous generation.

Photographer Andy Prhat

SAS’ new A321LR completed its first flight for SAS on December 20, 2021 between Copenhagen and Oslo. It will officially enter service on March 27, 2022 and is planned to operate on routes from Copenhagen to Washington, Boston and New York.

Airbus A321LR

The aircraft has 22 Business, 12 Plus and 123 Go, meaning a total of 157 seats in a single aisle aircraft. The seats are especially chosen for the A321LR to optimize the comfort in all three travel classes to meet the expectations of frequent travelers. Seats in SAS Business are fully flat seat beds and there are different mood light scenarios in the cabins, as well as Hi-speed Wi-Fi. Every seat is equipped with IFE screens, PC-power and/or Hi-power USB. The reduced noise level inside the cabin will further enhance the travel experience onboard.

Peach Aviation’s first Airbus A321LR arrives in Kansai

Peach Aviation (Japan) has made this announcement:

Peach Aviation Limited announced that the first Airbus A321LR arrived at Kansai Airport from Hamburg, Germany, on December 19, 2021.

From next month, January 2022, it is scheduled to operate regular flights between Osaka (Kansai) to Sapporo (New-Chitose) and Okinawa (Naha).

The first flight will be MM211 (Osaka (Kansai) – Okinawa (Naha) route) on January 18, 2022*1.

Peach is the first Japanese airline to introduce the A321LR.

The first-ever A321LR jet touches down at Kansai Airport on December 19, 2021

The A321LR introduced by Peach incorporates CFM’s LEAP-1A engine and sharklets (large wing-tip plates), and is 20% more fuel-efficient compared to the previous model (A320ceo).

In addition, the seat pitch of the A321LR introduced by Peach is 30 to 31 inches (76 to 78 cm), and each seat is equipped with a USB charging port, improving in-flight comfort. Also, seats in Airbus aircraft are one inch (about 2.5 cm) wider than those in aircraft manufactured by other companies, which allows for ample cabin space.

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JetBlue takes delivery of first Airbus A321LR enabling the carrier to launch transatlantic flights

JetBlue Airways today announced it has taken delivery of the airline’s first Airbus A321 Long Range (LR) aircraft, with tail registration of N4022J, arriving at JetBlue’s home at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Terminal 5 this afternoon.

This A321LR was assembled at the Airbus production facility in Hamburg, Germany and will enable JetBlue to launch its first-ever transatlantic service between the U.S. and London this summer.

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The A321LR allows JetBlue to tap into new long-haul markets, like London, that were not previously accessible with the airline’s existing fleet. The LR’s range of up to 4,000 nautical miles is made possible by three additional center fuel tanks and the aircraft delivers 30 percent fuel savings and nearly 50 percent reduction in noise footprint compared to previous generations of aircraft. JetBlue converted 13 aircraft in its existing A321 order book to the LR version in April 2019 with the ability to convert more. Additionally, JetBlue has converted another 13 aircraft in its existing order book to the Extra-Long Range – or XLR – version of the A321.

JetBlue is also the global launch partner for the new Airspace by Airbus cabin, bringing long-haul style to the A321 for the first time ever. Airspace brings a series of enhancements, many customized for JetBlue, including:

Stunning backlit ceiling panels through the entire cabin, which glow with a unique-to-JetBlue pattern.
Custom LED mood lighting that changes throughout different phases of flight to reduce jetlag technologies.
The largest overhead bins on a single-aisle aircraft.
New ergonomic sidewalls creating extra personal space at shoulder level.
A re-designed welcome area at the front boarding door.
Refreshed onboard restrooms with antimicrobial surfaces.

The modern elements of Airspace, combined with the customizations by JetBlue, offer customers a boutique-style setting for the airline’s highly anticipated transatlantic service.

JetBlue’s A321LR is powered by two Pratt & Whitney GTF engines. The GTF engine, with its revolutionary geared fan technology, is transforming aviation by delivering game-changing economic and environmental performance. The Pratt & Whitney GTF engine also incorporates advances in aerodynamics, lightweight materials and other major technology improvements.

Additional details about specific London routes, schedules and out-for-sale dates will be announced soon.

Azores Airlines takes delivery of its first Airbus A321LR

Azores Airlines, the Azores archipelago-based carrier, has taken delivery of its first of three Airbus A321LRs to be leased from Air Lease Corporation, becoming the latest operator of the long-range single-aisle aircraft.

Powered by CFM International’s LEAP-1A engines, the Azores Airlines’ A321LR comprises 190 seats in a two-class configuration (16 Business class seats and 174 seats in Economy) offering premium wide-body comfort in a single-aisle aircraft cabin and with single-aisle operating costs. With this new A321LR, the Portuguese operator will continue its strategy of growth and network expansion to European destinations as well as transatlantic routes between the Azores and North America.

The A321LR is a long-range (LR) version of the best-selling A320neo Family and provides airlines with the flexibility to fly long-range operations of up to 4,000 nm (7,400 km) and to tap into new long-haul markets, which were not previously accessible with single-aisle aircraft.

The A321LR will join the Azores Airlines’ Airbus fleet of five single-aisle aircraft comprising three A320ceo and two A321neo jetliners in service since last year. This new member of the fleet will provide Azores Airlines with more operational flexibility while leveraging on aircraft commonality.

Photo: Airbus.

Qatar Airways Converts 10 of its 50 Airbus A321neo on order to the longer range Airbus A321LR

Qatar Airways has announced that it will convert 10 of its 50 Airbus A321neo on order to the Airbus A321LR (long range) variant of the A320 family.

The A321LR is a type of A321neo, which has extra fuel tanks as well as a higher maximum take-off weight to give the aircraft additional range. Qatar Airways will use the A321LR to connect Doha to new growing markets where today demand is not sufficient for wide body aircraft or where current narrow bodies (A320/A321) are unable to reach. Alternatively, the new aircraft will be adopted to provide additional frequencies on existing Qatar Airways routes, giving our loyal passengers more choice and flexibility when they travel.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “We have reassessed the requirements of our fleet and determined that the A321LR will bring the additional capability and range to our existing portfolio of aircraft types that we require to successfully support our global route expansion. Based on this analysis we have agreed with Airbus that we will convert 10 of our 50 A321neo on order to the longer range A321LR, the first of which will be delivered in 2020.”

The A321LR, the latest member of the market leading A320neo family, is able to fly longer routes of up to 4,000 nm (7,400 km). The A321LR provides additional operational flexibility as it has the longest range of any single aisle airliner, making it ideally suited to transatlantic routes and enabling airlines to tap into new long-haul markets which were not previously accessible to single aisle aircraft. In general, the A321LR can carry up to 206 passengers in a typical two-class layout, or up to 244 passengers in a single-class configuration on intraregional flights, offering each passenger the possibility to carry up to three bags.

This aircraft is improved with a maximum take-off weight of 97 tons compared to 93.5 tons for a standard A321neo, with structural reinforcements at the wing and centre wing box, and the option of adding a third fuel tank in the cargo compartment, depending on the needs of the operator. This aircraft is also characterised by its passenger comfort, its significant endurance, its cabin layout adaptability, its per-seat operational costs, which are 30 per cent lower than those of the nearest competitor, and all this with excellent environmental performance.

Qatar Airways operates a modern fleet of more than 200 aircraft to a network of around 160 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America.

Image: Airbus.

Azores Airlines to expand trans-Atlantic operations with new Airbus A321s

azores-a321-200-wl-15fltairbuslrw

Azores Airlines, which is fully owned by Sociedade Açoreana de Transportes Aéreos (SATA), is modernizing its short-haul and trans-Atlantic fleet with the Airbus A321neo and by 2019 with the longer range A321LR. The decision follows a growth strategy to expand into new trans-Atlantic routes.

Azores Airlines (SATA) has been an Airbus customer since 1999 operating seven A310, A320 and A330 Airbus aircrafts across Europe, Canada and North America.

According to Airbus, The A321LR, the latest member of the market leading A320neo Family, will be able to fly longer routes of up to 4,000 nm. The A321LR will provide additional flexibility as it will have the longest range of any single aisle airliner, making it ideally suited to transatlantic routes and enable airlines to tap into new long haul markets which were not previously accessible with current single aisle aircraft. First deliveries will start in 2019.

Image: Airbus.

United Airlines considers the Airbus A321LR as a Boeing 757 replacement

United Airlines (Chicago) is now considering the new Airbus A321LR (Longer Range) as a thin route replacement aircraft to its large and aging Boeing 757 fleet according to Reuters.

Boeing is now finally agreeing to look at this noticeable gap in its line-up between the Boeing 737-900ER and the 787-8 Dreamliner. Boeing stated on Monday is was discussing studies of a model slightly larger than the 757 with greater range.

United has also said it will look at what Boeing comes up with but it could be too late as Airbus is making inroads in this niche airplane market.

Avianca is also considering the Boeing 787-9 according to the article.

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Copyright Photo: Fred Freketic/AirlinersGallery.com. United is a large Boeing 757 operator (second to Delta) and also, because of the merger between United and Continental, is a large Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 operator. The 757-200 (especially with the pictured Aviation Partners Boeing Blended Winglets) is ideal for the summer trans-Atlantic long and thin European markets. Boeing 757-222 N568UA (msn 26674) is seen at JFK International Airport in New York.

United Airlines aircraft slide show (current livery):