Airbus delivered the first A321neo Long Range (LR) to launch customer Arkia
Airlines, but the aircraft manufacturer is already working behind the scenes
with a variant that can fly even further: the A321neo Xtra Long Range (XLR).
More information about that aircraft is now available.
 
Manager Klaus Roewe, who is in charge of the A320 family at Airbus, says to
Flight Global that the XLR gets a maximum take-off weight of more than 100
tons and a flight range of 8700 kilometers (in normal circumstances and 206
passengers on board). That equals London to Los Angeles.
 
That means that the XLR can fly about 1300 kilometers further than the current
A321neo LR, which with its 7400 kilometers is already suitable for
trans-Atlantic flights. The maximum take-off weight of the LR is 97 tons, so
that is also a minimum of 3 to 4 tons up (for extra fuel).
 
Roewe's statements are in line with those of Air Transat CEO Jean-Francois
Lemay, who indicated in October in a briefing that Airbus had informed him
that the XLR should fly smoothly from Canada to Central and Eastern Europe.
This is just too far for the LR.
 
Roewe emphasizes that no definite decision has yet been made about the
development of the Xtra Long Range variant. According to analysts, it's highly
probable that the aircraft will be produced, so that Airbus can frustrate a
successful introduction of the Boeing 797.

--- D'Bridge 3.99 SR33
 * Origin: AVIATION ECHO HQ (2:292/854)