AIRWAYS FEATURE
9 10
9 10 The Economy Class cabin features the classic 3-3 arrangement . The 168 Recardo CL3810 seat comes with an adjustable headrest , a double-fold tray table and variable pitch depending on the row . Each seat is equipped with a USB-A and a USB-C charger , a 12 ” 4K touchscreen IFE and Bluetooth connectivity . WiFi is complimentary for all passengers .
customers can decide whether or not to include a crew rest area in their layout .”
The world ’ s airlines seem to have been hungering for just such a plane . So far , they have placed more than 500 orders for it . That hunger has been whetted , in part , by the complete lack of competition . So far , the A321XLR has accumulated orders from legacy carriers , low-cost carriers , and lessors . Legacy carriers like United Airlines and American Airlines have each ordered 50 XLRs , seeking replacements for their Boeing 757s . Low-cost carriers like Air Arabia and Indigo will profitably expand their network further . Interestingly , Indigo will be able to stretch as far as Europe , flying nonstop from Indian cities . However , it will take time for these customers to receive their awaited jets .
“ Today , we are extremely active in ramping up our production ,” Da Costa said . “ We are pushing very heavily to increase our production rates , which requires our efforts and those of our supply chain partners . Airbus is working hand in hand with them , even sending some of our engineering crew to some of our key suppliers to help them ramp up .
“ There has indeed been a very big challenge coming out of COVID , and I believe that the
industries have underestimated the challenge of ramping up from the low levels seen during the pandemic . We aim to produce 75 A320neo a month soon , but we are also ramping up all the other programs , be they the A220 or A350 .”
HOW IBERIA BECAME THE FIRST TO FLY THE XLR
Every airline in the world dreams of becoming the launch customer for a new aircraft . This distinction offers several commercial advantages , as the airline ’ s name gets associated with an innovative aircraft and is promoted across various media as a promising option for customers . Typically , the launch customer is the first airline to place an order for the airframe . In the case of the Airbus A321XLR , the jet was unveiled at the 2019 Paris Air Show , with orders being announced the same day , on June 17 , 2019 .
The first company to express interest in the program was the Air Lease Corporation , which included up to 27 units of the A321XLR in a larger order of 100 different Airbus aircraft . However , the first airline to officially order the jet was the Lebanese flag carrier Middle East Airlines ( MEA ), which signed a smaller deal for just four units and thus becoming the official launch customer for the
46 AIRWAYS MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2025 www . airwaysmag . com