AA Orders 50 Airbus A321XLR at 2019 Paris Airshow
 

https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/pres...-a321xlrs.html

Thanks JDiver! I just heard the news this morning. I think it's great news about this. They will delivery A321XLR in 2025 or earlier.

From Isom's video this morning:

"8 aircraft in 2023, 22 in 2024, and the 20 options to confirmed for deliver in 2025"

Indeed. AA wasn’t the launch order (Steven F. Udvar-Házy‘s Air Lease Corporation was, with his order of 27, a huge endorsement of the aircraft considering Udvar-Házy‘s standing in the commercial aviation field, along with Middle East Airlines of Lebanon ordered 4).

Reportedly, AA expects to take delivery of eight in 2023. The A321XLR is expected to begin flying commercially in 2023 because it has over 90% in common with the most recent A321s, but that feels pretty aggressive. As you like to say, “let the speculation begin”. Though we have a lot of information on this one so far, there’s lots to speculate about, including seating to be selected, and with 50 orders exceeding many people’s previous guesses, the routes that will get these.

Maps: 4,700 nm max range ex-DFW, MIA

I would think half of these a/c will replace the 75Ls. I wonder what the other half will be earmarked for? New routes and/or some downgauging.

So perhaps a new European gateway hub at ART!

Would these be destined for assembly in Alabama?

Taking a Catious View
 

Happy for AA if they can make this work, and folks who prefer direct flights to the targeted destinations.

I think I will wait to hear about the experiences from a lot of flyers before getting on a 10+ hr flight on a narrow body. Even 6 hrs can be tough, as I like to get up and walk around, which will not be easy on this type of plane. Give me a large wide body any day, and I'll deal with the need to connect by cooling my heals in a nice lounge ;) .

And I feel for the crew..

I think those of us who have flown the 757 transatlantic will be happy. In fact, some flights now flown with the 763 might be replaced with this likely more reliable aircraft which is likely to sport an angled flat bed product for all aisle access.

Of course they ordered, Have to do something to replace aging 757's, and it is the only real choice if you want new planes to the gate sooner rather than later. Fills a need for AA, but may or may not prove to be the long-term long-and-narrow route solution.

But not so specialized an aircraft it can't be reassigned to the more traditional narrow-body route pool if the 797 proves to be such a consumer favorite it becomes a competitive necessity.

My only real concern is if the extra fuel creates another center-of-gravity issue requiring a specialized pilot group.

.

I think you are absolutely correct.

The Future Of Narrowbody Flat Bed Business Class? By Ben (Lucky), OMAT, 1 Aug 2017 - link

From the Thompson Aero Seating brochure:

Fair enough, but from personal experience, flew the 757 twice on relatively short flights (~ 6ish hours), and in business both times, and vowed to try to avoid it in lieu of wide bodies. Personal preference, I guess.