CHICAGO- United Airlines (UA) anticipates receiving its first Airbus A321XLR in January 2026. Marking the beginning of its transition from aging Boeing 757s to these advanced long-range narrowbody aircraft.
The carrier’s senior vice president of global network planning and alliances, Patrick Quayle, confirmed on October 9 that the XLR will not participate in United’s upcoming network expansion in spring, which includes new routes to Greenland and Mongolia.
United Airlines A321XLR Delivery
Quayle indicated that the XLR’s arrival post-summer season will enable United to explore “even more unique” destinations, aligning with the airline’s strategy of identifying unconventional routes.
United Airlines placed an order for 50 XLRs in 2019, acknowledging the necessity to phase out its less efficient Boeing 757-200 fleet.
This strategic move positions United to enhance its operational efficiency and expand its route network capabilities in the coming years.
Airbus obtained European certification for the XLR equipped with CFM International Leap-1A engines shortly before the Farnborough Air Show in late July.
Regulators anticipate certifying the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-powered variant by year’s end. European authorities approved Airbus’s higher-weight XLR on October 11, expanding the aircraft’s operational capabilities.
International Airlines Group (IAG), poised to become the inaugural XLR customer, anticipates the imminent delivery of the aircraft to its Spanish subsidiary, Iberia.
Along with United, various other carriers have ordered A321XLRs as flagged by Simple Flying and they are as follows:
| Airlines | A321XLR Orders |
|---|---|
| IndiGo | 69 |
| American Airlines | 50 |
| United Airlines | 50 |
| Wizz Air | 47 |
| Qantas | 36 |
| Air Canada | 30 |
| Air Arabia | 20 |
| AirAsia X | 20 |
| VietJet | 20 |
| JetSmart | 14 |
| Icelandair | 13 |
| JetBlue | 13 |
| LATAM | 13 |
| Cebu Pacific | 10 |
| Flynas | 10 |
| SKY | 10 |
| Aer Lingus | 6 |
| Iberia | 6 |
| Air Transat | 4 |
| Middle East Airlines | 4 |
| Czech Airlines | 3 |
| Drukair | 2 |
Some A321XLR Routes
Airbus is preparing to launch its A321XLR, an extra-long-range variant of the popular A321 narrowbody, in November. Spanish flag carrier Iberia will operate the aircraft’s inaugural passenger flights.
The A321XLR has garnered over 550 orders from airlines worldwide. Carriers view the aircraft as ideal for serving lower-demand city pairs previously unreachable or unprofitable with widebody planes.
Iberia plans to inaugurate the A321XLR service on November 14 with a seven-hour flight between Madrid and Boston. The airline will expand A321XLR operations to Washington Dulles on January 15, featuring a nine-hour and 40-minute flight time.
Low-cost carrier Wizz Air will introduce A321XLR flights in March 2024, connecting London Gatwick and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on a seven-hour route. Wizz Air plans to deploy the aircraft between Milan and Abu Dhabi in June, showcasing the A321XLR’s versatility in both budget and mainline fleet configurations.
Irish carrier Aer Lingus announced its first A321XLR route in October, linking Dublin and Nashville starting April 2025.
Qantas envisions deploying the A321XLR on routes connecting Brisbane to Tokyo, Perth to the Maldives, and Melbourne to Bangkok.
Icelandair intends to utilize the A321XLR as a replacement for its aging 757 fleet on transatlantic routes. The airline’s 2023 annual report outlined nine prospective destinations for the new aircraft, including major cities such as Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Houston, and Cancún.
JetSMART, a South American low-cost carrier, anticipates becoming the first A321XLR operator in Latin America. In March 2024, the airline announced that the new aircraft could enable it to offer affordable flights between Chile and Miami.
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