It’s an exciting day for Aer Lingus, as the airline has today taken delivery of a new type of aircraft (and it’s only the second such aircraft to be delivered globally).
In this post:
Aer Lingus adds Airbus A321XLR to fleet
Aer Lingus has today taken delivery of its first of six Airbus A321XLRs. The plane has the registration code EI-XLR, and operated its 1hr59min delivery flight from Hamburg (XFW) to Dublin (DUB).
For some background, in 2019, International Airlines Group (IAG) placed an order for 14 of these jets. This is the parent company of carriers like British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, etc. The plan is for six of these aircraft to join Aer Lingus’ fleet, and eight to join Iberia’s fleet.
While Aer Lingus was supposed to be the global launch customer of the A321XLR, Iberia ended up taking delivery of the aircraft first, due to a pilot contract dispute at Aer Lingus (where management used additional new aircraft as a bargaining technique).
For those not familiar with the A321XLR, this is the world’s longest range narrow body jet in production. This aircraft is based on the Airbus A321 family of aircraft, but features even more incremental range improvements over the A321neo and A321LR (which already have more range than the A321ceo). Many airline executives view the A321XLR as an exciting plane that can open up long and thin routes that couldn’t necessarily be served by wide body jets.
When it comes to Aer Lingus’ long haul fleet, the six Airbus A321XLRs will complement the existing eight Airbus A321LRs (the same type of plane, but with a bit less range), as well as 13 Airbus A330s (three of them are the -200 variant, and 10 are the -300 variant).
While Aer Lingus has a modern narrow body long haul fleet, the carrier’s wide body fleet is a bit less modern, and there are no firm plans for more new aircraft deliveries. However, the airline is expected to eventually introduce a new wide body business class.
Aer Lingus Airbus A321XLR routes & flights
Aer Lingus has already announced plans to launch two new routes with the Airbus A321XLR. The plane is expected to operate flights to Nashville (BNA) as of April 2025, and to Indianapolis (IND) as of May 2025.
In the meantime, it’s expected that Aer Lingus will put its A321XLR in service on some existing A321LR routes, so you can expect to find the plane flying both across the Atlantic and within Europe over the coming days, weeks, and months.
What to expect onboard Aer Lingus’ A321XLR
What should passengers expect onboard Aer Lingus’ Airbus A321XLRs? This is where it gets strange. Initially I was under the impression that Aer Lingus and Iberia would have the same interiors on these jets, aside from the finishes being different, to reflect the branding of the two carriers. However, that doesn’t appear to be the case.
The Aer Lingus A321XLRs will reportedly have virtually the same interiors that you’ll find on Aer Lingus A321LRs, also flying across the Atlantic. This includes a staggered business class product — specifically, the Thompson Aero Vantage seat. In total there are 184 seats, comprised of 16 business class seats and 168 economy seats.
It’s surprising that the decision was made to offer fleet commonality between the A321LR and A321XLR, rather than between the two airlines, with an improved product.
How do Aer Lingus’ interiors compare to those of the Iberia Airbus A321XLRs? Those planes have 182 seats, spread across two cabins, including 14 business class seats and 168 economy class seats. There’s no premium economy cabin, which is odd for Iberia, since the airline has that on wide body jets.
Iberia A321XLRs feature 14 business class seats, spread across seven rows, in a 1-1 configuration. IAG selected the Thompson Aero VantageSOLO seat, the same seat you’ll find in the new JetBlue Mint. These are herringbones seats that are fully flat and have direct aisle access, with 18″ 4K TV screens. There’s also great tech, including bluetooth audio.
When it comes to the 168 economy seats on Iberia’s A321XLRs, passengers can expect 4″ of recline and leather headrests. Even in economy there’s bluetooth audio, as well as USB-A and USB-C charging ports. Furthermore, there are personal electronic device holders, as well as Wi-Fi connectivity throughout the jet.
Below is a video about the Iberia A321XLR…
Bottom line
Aer Lingus has taken delivery of its first Airbus A321XLR. While Aer Lingus was supposed to be the launch customer for the aircraft, it ended up being the second airline. Since Aer Lingus already flies A321LRs, the difference in terms of the types of “missions” these planes fly won’t be huge. The passenger experience onboard should also be familiar, for those who have flown the A321LR.
What do you make of Aer Lingus adding the Airbus A321XLR to its fleet?
Until Aer Lingus adds a Premium Economy cabin or offers significantly better business availability (via Avios, not AS), I sadly just don't see myself flying with them.
One notable exception: flying "Business" on the 320 on a repositioning flight from DUB to LHR is probably the best intra-Europe flight experience I can think of.
You often find very cheap J fares from Europe to US on Iberia and Aer Lingus, but I still avoid them given how poor the experience is on a narrow-body. I’ll even take LH J in 2-2-2 over them.
I believe EI have installed the same seat on the LR and XLR. There is supposed to be a new EI business seat coming, but that has not been officially confirmed.
EI-XLR is due to fly to IAD on Friday, so not hanging around
@ tom -- Wait, is that confirmed? I see the IAD flight listed as A321neo, with no specification as to whether it's the LR or XLR. If it's really the same interiors as the A321LR, how strange that Iberia didn't elect to install premium economy, and create consistency with the long haul fleet.
A poster on airliners.net said the it was due to fly to IAD on Dec 20th. No need for familiarization flights as its basically same as the LR
Airline Execs might be excited, but I am not
Probably not for any logical reason though, other than "Ermuhgudd, a nArROwbOdY!"
I'm not really excited about those long-haul narrow-body planes. Of course as an avgeek the new types entering into the service is interesting but as a passenger I feel indifferent at best about this.
No matter what statistical data suggests I wouldn't find it acceptable for airlines to fly this on long-haul routes. Yes, I just don't like it. I'll admit.
At least you can admit the lack of any empirical logic behind it.
Iberia's A321-XLRs for example will offer the exact same coach seats, more headroom in all classes, and the same ratio of lavs-to-passengers (1 per 45) as the the airline's A350s do. The difference is only in the minds of aviation geeks who can't get over narrowbodies on the transatlantic, even though they've been there since the dawn of longhaul travel. The majority...
At least you can admit the lack of any empirical logic behind it.
Iberia's A321-XLRs for example will offer the exact same coach seats, more headroom in all classes, and the same ratio of lavs-to-passengers (1 per 45) as the the airline's A350s do. The difference is only in the minds of aviation geeks who can't get over narrowbodies on the transatlantic, even though they've been there since the dawn of longhaul travel. The majority of the public doesn't know, and more importantly doesn't care, what equipment they're riding.