Join us on our A321XLR journey


The Xtra Long Range route opener
A321XLR
The A321XLR is the newest member of the A320 Family, providing an Xtra Long Range. With a flight time of up to 11 hours and a range of up to 4,700nm, the A321XLR has the capability to connect distant destinations such as New York to Rome, London to Vancouver, Delhi to London, Sydney to Kuala Lumpur.
Join us on our A321XLR journey and read the latest updates.

Airbus A321XLR with Pratt & Whitney engine receives EASA type certification
21 February 2025
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued the Type Certificate for the Airbus A321XLR powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF™ engines. This follows the certification of the CFM LEAP-1A powered A321XLR in July 2024 and paves the way for the first customer aircraft with Pratt & Whitney engines to enter into service later this year.

Aer Lingus takes delivery of its first Airbus A321XLR aircraft
19 December 2024

The Final Countdown to A321XLR Customer Handovers
26 September 2024
A321XLR The Road to Certification

Approaching the finish-line for Certification and service entry
18 July 2024
As the A321XLR’s five-year long flight test and EASA certification programme draws to a close and the first series production aircraft are handed over to the commercial teams for delivery to launch customers, we look behind the scenes at what has led up to this, and the main milestones achieved this year.

Preparing for the A321XLR’s entry into service
30 MAY 2024
We are almost there! The A321XLR is in the final stages of certification and the teams are gearing up to prepare its entry into service later this year.
As well as debriefing after the airlines’ recent route-proving flights, attention is also being focussed on ensuring that the first operators will have everything that they will need in terms of airworthiness compliance and operational support on day-one. This includes especially the technical documentation and the strategic spares and on-site expert support – to enable the airlines’ smooth operations with the longest-range Airbus Single-Aisle airliner.

Passenger Experience Flight completed!
05 October 2023
Following the successful route proving campaign, our A321XLR has completed its latest milestone "en route" to certification with the Passenger Experience Flight! Powered by 30% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) the aircraft flew for 6hrs across Europe to test the comfort and cabin systems maturity in as close to airline operating conditions as possible.
Passengers onboard included 167 employees involved in the A321XLR development from France, Germany, Spain and the UK as well as 22 experts and 11 Airbus Flight Test and cabin crew members.
Their feedback will provide valuable insights in gauging passengers' perception, an important contribution to the A321XLR’s verification and validation, ensuring full maturity at entry into service for customers in 2024

A321XLR 'En route' to certification
13-22 September 2023
On September 13 we took off for a non-stop 10 days - 100 hours - one aircraft - international flight test campaign across the world. The world is a beautiful place and the A321XLR takes you there!
This exciting ten day campaign has demonstrated the A321XLR’s technical reliability and maturity through varying climatic conditions and flight durations - typical of what airlines might fly when the aircraft enters into service.
Hear from our experts
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A321XLR en route to certification with Jim Fawcett
A321XLR en route to certification with Jim Fawcett
Jim Fawcett - Lead Flight Test engineer
A321XLR Route proving -
Meet Deborah Vintner our A321XLR Expert Safety Management
Meet Deborah Vintner our A321XLR Expert Safety Management
ITW Deborah Vintner, Safety Management System Officer -
How during the flight testing campaign, Airbus realizes measure with a scientific tool that enables to understand when the fatigue. -
Meet Rémy Vallois our A321XLR Expert Test Flight Engineer
Meet Rémy Vallois our A321XLR Expert Test Flight Engineer
ITW Rémy Vallois, Test Flight Engineer
To ensure the aircraft is operational for the flight test -
Meet Jean-Philippe Pascal our A321XLR Expert Operation control centre
Meet Jean-Philippe Pascal our A321XLR Expert Operation control centre
ITW Jean-Philippe Pascal, HO Operations Control Centre
The Maintenance Control Centre is in charge to follow the aircraft in real time all around the world. -
Meet Estelle Poulin our A321XLR Expert Security
Meet Estelle Poulin our A321XLR Expert Security
Estelle Poulin - Aviation Security Operations Manager
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Meet Thomas Latour our A321XLR Expert Flight Operation
Meet Thomas Latour our A321XLR Expert Flight Operation
Thomas Latour - Expert Flight Operation
A321XLR unique flight tests
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En route to certification
En route to certification
Day one of the Route proving, release date 13 sep : after landing
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The A321XLR journey so far
The A321XLR journey so far
The A321XLR journey so far
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A321XLR Cold weather tests
A321XLR Cold weather tests
Timelapse of the 2nd and 3rd test aircraft cold weather tests
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A321XLR First flight - Best of
A321XLR First flight - Best of
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