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central hub in Madrid . The first unit , registered as EC-OIL , completed assembly in April 2024 and was delivered to Iberia on October 30 , 2024 , following several months of flight testing .
The introduction of the A321XLR to Iberia marks a significant milestone . Unlike its competitors , Iberia had not operated long-haul narrowbody flights in recent history , relying instead on Airbus A330 and A350 wide-body aircraft for all its transatlantic operations up to 2024 . This new , smaller , and more fuel-efficient aircraft enables Iberia to launch flights to destinations with lower demand and even explore new routes that would have previously been considered economically unviable .
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The Spanish flag carrier now has the opportunity to strengthen its partnership with American Airlines by launching nonstop flights from Madrid to smaller AA hubs on the East Coast of the United States , such as Philadelphia and Charlotte , thereby increasing its presence in the highly competitive transatlantic market . The aircraft also enables the airline to test new routes to Canada , Africa , and the Middle East , where demand only warrants a smaller 182-seat airplane .
Despite these developments , Iberia has remained tightlipped about the strategic role the Airbus A321XLR will play in its network . On November 14 , 2024 , the airline launched the world ’ s first transatlantic service
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13 Iberia ’ s first A321XLR is powered by the CFM LEAP-1A engine . CFM International is a 50 / 50 joint venture between Safran Aircraft Engines and GE . |
from Madrid to Boston-Logan Airport . This flight attracted significant attention from the global aviation community . The day before , Airways attended the official welcoming ceremony at Iberia ’ s maintenance facilities in Madrid , where we learned about the unique features of this new aircraft .
During the event , Iberia emphasized a bold message that addressed the controversy surrounding the XLR : “ The inflight experience remains the same as that of other wide-body aircraft in the fleet , despite the difference in size .”
Indeed , a close inspection of the interiors of the A321XLR and the A350 Next cabins reveals many similarities .
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