Iberia revolutionizes transoceanic flights with the premiere of the new Airbus A321XLR

Iberia is the global launcher of this aircraft model, which has a range of up to 7,500 kilometers in this configuration. In addition, it is positioned as one of the most efficient aircraft on the market, with fuel savings of more than 40% compared to wide-body models. The A321XLR maintains the high comfort standards characteristic of other long-haul aircraft in the Iberia fleet such as the A350. It is equipped with the new airspace cabin and has two classes, business and economy, with a total of 182 seats.

With the launch of a new aircraft, Iberia reinforces its long-haul fleet, with a special focus on America. The first destinations the XLR is scheduled to fly to are Boston and Washington DC (United States).

The airline will incorporate seven additional aircraft of this model in the coming months, which will make it easier for it to incorporate new long-haul destinations into its network and will allow it to increase capacity in the cities to which it currently flies. «We are very proud to be the first airline in the world to start flights on the A321XLR. It is a true milestone in the aviation industry. This new aircraft model allows us to strengthen our network and consider flying to new destinations in an efficient and comfortable way for all our customers,” said Marco Sansavini, president of Iberia.

“It is fantastic to see the newest member of the Airbus family preparing to take off on its first transatlantic commercial flight in Iberia colours. Routes such as Madrid-Boston demonstrate the strategic value that the A321XLR brings to the long-haul market. “We are proud to play a key role in Iberia’s expansion plans with this aircraft that changes the rules of the game, while providing its passengers with unmatched comfort in its Airspace cabin,” said Christian Scherer, CEO of Airbus Commercial Aircraft.

Since its delivery to Iberia on October 30, this aircraft has been making European flights to Paris and Stockholm, as part of the usual qualification of each new aircraft before starting long-haul flights tomorrow. Iberia’s A321XLR offers an unprecedented range of up to 4,000 nautical miles (7,500 kilometers), which is 15% more than the A321LR.

This aircraft introduces structural, aerodynamic and software improvements, and has an integrated central fuel tank, allowing it to extend its range. It is powered by state-of-the-art CFM LEAP-1A engines.

182 seats

The A321XLR offers customers the same standards of comfort that characterize wide-body models such as the A330 and A350 in the Iberia fleet. Its 182 seats are distributed between the business and tourist cabins, guaranteeing the comfort of passengers.

The Business cabin has 14 individual seats, each next to a window and with direct access to the aisle. These ‘full flat’ seats convert into a bed and feature a large leather headrest, compartments for personal items and a structure designed to provide comfort and privacy, with direct access to the aisle.

Each business class seat includes a single 18.5-inch screen with 4K resolution, offering a sharp image and improved tones in dark mode. All this, complemented by the best on-board entertainment system.

For greater comfort, each seat has its own lighting system, which can be adjusted independently to adjust the light to the desired environment. Likewise, each seat has its number backlit during night mode to find its location more easily.

The Economy cabin has 168 seats of the CL3810 model, manufactured by Recaro, with a unit weight of almost 2 kilograms less than its predecessor. The seats offer up to four inches of recline for added comfort, and are equipped with six-way adjustable headrests and two additional pockets to store personal items. An individual 12-inch screen with 4K resolution is integrated into each backrest.