The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has certified the Airbus A321XLR
, becoming the second regulator in the world to do so.
Certifying CFM International-powered A321XLRs
In a development first reported by The Air Current, the FAA
certified the A321XLR on October 5. However, the Airbus A320 family aircraft type certificate data sheet (TCDS) A28NM was updated on December 5, with the US-based regulator adding the A321-253NY to the TCDS with the 51st revision.
The type was certified with the CFM International
LEAP-1A engines, with the FAA following the path of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which first certified the A321XLR with the LEAP-1A.
Photo: Airbus
When the European regulator approved the A321XLR to begin commercial flights on July 19, Airbus said that certification of PW1100G
-powered A321XLRs was slated “for later in 2024.”
The Air Current also reported that the EASA’s
approval for the long-range single-aisle jet to operate flights with the other engine option, the PW1100G, also known as the Geared Turbofan (GTF), has slipped into 2025. Simple Flying has approached Airbus for comment.
Related
EASA Certifies Airbus A321XLR LEAP-1A Engines
EASA has officially added four different LEAP-1A engine models to the LEAP-1A and LEAP-1C’s type certificate on August 6.
Granting exemptions
According to the TCDS, the A321XLR can hold up to 36,491 liters (26,645 kilograms) of fuel, with a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of either 97,000 kg (213,848 pounds) or 101,000 kg (222,667 lbs), mimicking the type’s European TCDS.
The FAA approved the A321XLR with several exemptions that were specific to the aircraft type, including regulations regarding the cabin pressurization system, the flight crew’s ability to view the outside of the flight deck emergency exit, more seats than the combined maximum number for all Type II exits (floor-level doors) when the mid-cabin door is de-rated to a Type III exit.
Photo: Sergey Kohl | Shutterstock
Lastly, the FAA approved Airbus
to install and for airlines to operate mini-suites for passengers with doors and moveable walls. While the European manufacturer did not disclose the airline that would operate these mini-suites when it applied for the exemption, American Airlines already unveiled its A321XLR cabins in September 2022.
The interiors featured mini-suites, which American Airlines has marketed as the ‘Flagship Suite,’ with each A321XLR being equipped with 20 of the lie-flat suites in a 1-1 configuration. 12 premium economy and 123 economy seats will be placed behind the 20 Flagship Suites.
In comparison, 
Iberia
has configured its first A321XLR, which Airbus delivered to the Spanish airline on October 30, with 14 business and 168 economy class seats.
Related
Airbus Seeks FAA Exemption To Allow A321XLR Business Class Suite Doors
Airbus stated that the proposed mini-suites would not be detrimental to an evacuation and would benefit the flying public.
A321XLR flights to/from the US
Iberia has already launched flights from/to the US, with the Spanish carrier making the A321XLR’s debut on transatlantic flights on November 14, with the aircraft, registered as EC-OIL, flying from Madrid Barajas Airport
(MAD) to Boston Logan International Airport
(BOS).
So far, the type has been flying between the two cities exclusively. Data from the aviation analytics company Cirium showed that starting in January 2025, Iberia will deploy the A321XLR to fly from Madrid to Washington Dulles International Airport
(IAD), with the type flying six weekly and seven weekly itineraries from the Spanish capital to Boston and Washington-Dulles in January 2025, respectively.
Photo: Airbus
Another airline scheduled to take delivery of its first A321XLR soon is Aer Lingus, which had already lost its launch customer spot during a stand-off with its pilots over pay during the summer months.
The Irish carrier’s first A321XLR, which will be – accordingly – registered as EI-XLR, has carried out ten test flights under the temporary registration D-AZXY, with its latest departure being on December 6, according to Aviation Flights Group.
Aer Lingus’
second A321XLR, to be registered EI-XLT, operated its first-ever flight under the temporary registration D-AYAH on December 5.
Ch-aviation estimated that the Dublin Airport (DUB)-based carrier will take delivery of the two A321XLRs in December, while Iberia should welcome its second A321XLR, to be registered as EC-OLE, in January 2025, coinciding with the launch of its second transatlantic route to Washington-Dulles.
Photo: Aer Lingus
While American Airlines’ Q3 Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Q3 filing detailed that it anticipated three and seven A320neo family aircraft – without differentiating between A321neo or A321XLR – before the end of 2024 and in 2025, respectively, ch-aviation estimated the airline’s first A321XLR to arrive on American soil in December.
United Airlines
expects its first A321XLR to arrive in January 2026, according to a previous report by FlightGlobal, while JetBlue had deferred its A321XLR deliveries to 2030 and beyond.
For Airbus, which has been facing supply chain disruptions that forced the company to downgrade its annual aircraft delivery outlook, December will be a hectic month if it wants to reach its “around 770 aircraft” goal by the end of the year.
The European plane maker ended November with 84 deliveries, increasing its year-to-date (YTD) tally to 643. As a result, Airbus will have to hand over an eye-watering 127 aircraft in December to reach 770 yearly deliveries. In comparison, the company delivered 112 jets during the last month of 2023.
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