12 The brandnew engine shines on the clean fuselage . Before entering transatlantic service the day after the event , the A321XLR was tested on European routes including Paris . |
customer at the beginning of 2024 . The group member to which this honor was awarded was Aer Lingus , the Irish flag carrier , which has extensive experience flying single-aisle jets across the Atlantic . Aer Lingus previously operated four Boeing 757s for six years , until the COVID-19 pandemic began . These were replaced with Airbus A321neoLRs , the earlier variant of the type , which has a shorter range and fewer structural modifications .
Aer Lingus has developed an entire route strategy based around the A321LR variant , operating numerous narrowbody transatlantic flights between Ireland and the United States . The airline has played
|
a crucial role in connecting cities like Hartford , Cleveland , and Indianapolis , becoming the first to offer non-stop service to those destinations from Europe . When the IAG had to choose a candidate to introduce the A321XLR variant and demonstrate its capabilities , Aer Lingus was a fitting choice .
The initial goal was to deliver the first Airbus A321XLR to Aer Lingus during the first half of 2024 . The first aircraft accordingly rolled off the final assembly line in February . However , a significant issue arose that led the IAG to reconsider the viability of this delivery . The Irish Airlines Pilots Association ( IALPA ) demanded a 23.8 % salary increase for Pilots
|
and cabin crew to account for the challenges potentially presented by longer flight times on narrow-body aircraft .
Aer Lingus was only willing to offer a much smaller increase of 8-9 %. This disagreement prolonged the conflict , ultimately resulting in the IAG having to withdraw Aer Lingus ’ s candidacy as the launch customer for the Airbus A321XLR .
As a result , on May 19 , 2024 , after nearly five years of uncertainty , the IAG announced Iberia as the official launch customer for this new aircraft . At the same time , Iberia revealed a brand-new interior designed for long-haul flights from its
|
12 |