Page 6 - AAA JUNE - JULY 2022 Online Magazine

COVER STORY

IN POLE Even as the countdown for the biggest aviation event of the years

began, Airbus made the first move by announcing on June 15 that
it had conducted the first flight of its A321XLR (extra-long range),
an aircraft that has evoked an enthusiastic response from carri-
ers and helped the company maintain its edge over Boeing in the
POSITION single-aisle market. Airbus currently has more than 5,800 orders
in its backlog for the A320 family, over half of which are for the
A321neo, while Boeing’s 737 family has a backlog of 3,379, including
an estimated 673 orders for the MAX 10.

“With the A321XLR coming into service, airlines will be able to offer
WITH THE MAIDEN FLIGHT OF long-haul comfort on a single aisle aircraft, thanks to its unique
THE A321XLR, AIRBUS IS PRIMED airspace cabin,” says Philippe Mhun, Airbus EVP Programmes and
TO FURTHER CONSOLIDATE ITS Services. “This is a major milestone for the A320 Family and its
customers worldwide. The A321XLR will open new routes with
LEAD IN THE NARROW-BODY unbeatable economics and environmental performance.”
AIRCRAFT MARKET
A Slight Hiccup
The European powerhouse, which has already secured orders for
Arun Sivasankaran more than 530 aircraft of the type from over 20 customers, had
initially hoped to have the plane enter service in 2023, but addi-
tional structural work on the new fuel tanks has delayed entry into
The momentum is firmly behind Airbus as the service until early 2024.
latest round in the enduring rivalry between
the two biggest plane makers in the business The longer range of the A321XLR is due to it having an extra
moves to Farnborough. rear-centre fuel tank molded into the lower fuselage of the aircraft.

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