HAMBURG- Fort Worth-based American Airlines (AA) is gearing up to introduce a groundbreaking premium product in the US, according to Kimberley Cisek, the airline’s president of customer experience. This new offering will debut with the launch of its first Airbus A321XLR.
During a media briefing at AIX in Hamburg on May 28, Cisek expressed excitement about delivering a “widebody experience on a narrowbody aircraft” with the A321XLR.
American Airlines A321XLR- Premium Offerings
Cisek highlighted the airline’s long-standing partnership with Airbus, noting that the new A321XLR will enable American Airlines to operate flights to destinations previously unreachable by narrowbodies. This includes expanded seasonal routes and new destinations, with transcontinental flights expected to be among the first routes.
The A321XLR will feature an undisclosed number of seats equipped with American Airlines’ “flagship business class product” and the “first-ever privacy suites” without a differentiated front row. Cisek describes these as “the most premium cabins for any of our narrowbody aircraft.”
Branding throughout the cabin will ensure that “customers immediately know they’re on an American Airlines flight,” featuring on-brand trim and finishes, overhead XL bins, 4k monitors, and USB and A/C power units.
These new trims and finishes will eventually be implemented across the entire American Airlines fleet.
While American Airlines has no immediate plans to offer free onboard Wi-Fi, the airline will continue to invest in “the highest speed Wi-Fi,” according to Cisek.
She noted the “great reaction” to the new option allowing customers to redeem AAdvantage miles for Wi-Fi connectivity and expressed confidence that “customers will continue to enjoy the experience” on the A321XLR.
American Airlines has yet to confirm the exact entry date for the A321XLR in their service. Airbus recently announced that the entry into service of the A321XLRs has been pushed back to the second half of the year.
Iberia will be the Launch Customer
IAG Group-backed Iberia (IB) will soon introduce the new Airbus aircraft, becoming the first in the world to receive the A321XLR by the end of the summer.
This aircraft will enhance Iberia’s long-haul fleet with more sustainable and innovative capabilities, allowing the airline to operate transoceanic routes using a narrow-body, single-aisle aircraft.
This addition will expand Iberia’s network of destinations, particularly focusing on America. The A321XLR’s range will enable more efficient fleet utilization based on market demand.
The first long-haul destinations for this new model are expected to be Washington DC (IAD) and then Boston (BOS).
As with all newly delivered planes, it will initially operate on medium-range routes for the first few days.
One of the major innovations of the A321XLR is its capability to perform long-haul flights as a single-aisle aircraft, while still offering a premium service comparable to wide-body models like the A330s and A350s in Iberia’s fleet.
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