Iberia has simply formally change into the brand new international launch buyer for the Airbus A321XLR, because of Aer Lingus’ ongoing pay dispute with pilots.
Iberia shall be first airline to fly Airbus A321XLR
In June 2019, Airbus formally launched the Airbus A321XLR, which would be the world’s longest vary slender physique jet. This plane relies on the Airbus A321 household of plane, however options much more incremental vary enchancment over the A321neo and A321LR (which have already got extra vary than the A321ceo).
Airways have ordered a whole lot of those jets, as they search for lengthy vary, low capability jets, that may open up all types of recent markets. The primary A321XLR is predicted to be delivered to airways in Q3 2024.
The launch buyer for the aircraft is Worldwide Airways Group (IAG), the mother or father firm of British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, and so forth. The corporate ordered 14 of those jets, with eight meant for Iberia and 6 meant for Aer Lingus.
Initially the plan was for Aer Lingus to be the launch buyer for the aircraft, however that’s not the case. Iberia is now the worldwide launch buyer for the A321XLR, and the jet ought to enter service earlier than the tip of 2024, assuming all goes as deliberate.
Iberia has even introduced the primary routes to get the A321XLR. Presumably after some crew familiarization flights, the jet will make its lengthy haul debut flying from Madrid (MAD) to each Boston (BOS) and Washington (IAD). The precise entry into service particulars stay to be seen. We additionally haven’t but discovered what to anticipate from the interiors of those jets.
Whereas the A321XLR is marketed as opening up new markets that wouldn’t in any other case be doable, on this case the jet merely represents a downgrade for current routes which might be at present operated by A330s.
Why Aer Lingus is not Airbus A321XLR launch buyer
As talked about above, Aer Lingus was presupposed to be the primary airline to start out flying the Airbus A321XLR, so what occurred? Aer Lingus has been having a pay dispute with its pilots, as administration and the union haven’t been capable of agree on new pay charges.
Aer Lingus pilots are in search of wage will increase of greater than 20%, to mirror inflation over time, plus salaries at competing airways. In the meantime administration hasn’t been keen to budge past an 8.5% increase.
Administration has threatened that if pilots don’t comply with a deal, the airline will defer Airbus A321XLR deliveries for the airline (and in flip, cut back flying alternatives for pilots). The 2 events had till April 29, 2024, to come back to an settlement, and had been unable to take action.
IAG has lengthy taken a ruthless method to negotiations with employees, so I’m not stunned to see that the corporate adopted by way of with its risk. As a spokesperson explains:
“Sadly, Aer Lingus was not capable of give IAG the price construction assurances essential for this funding and so the inaugural A321 XLR – initially deliberate for Aer Lingus – shall be allotted elsewhere within the group.”
Now, it’s price emphasizing that for now, solely the primary A321XLR supply has been allotted to Iberia, so getting the second (or third) A321XLR continues to be doubtlessly within the playing cards, if an settlement could be reached. Moreover, it’s simply the timeline that’s being delayed right here, and it’s not essentially that the variety of jets going to Aer Lingus is altering (although administration threatens that might occur if a positive deal isn’t reached).
Understand that Aer Lingus already has eight Airbus A321LRs in its fleet, which is the marginally shorter vary model of the identical jet. So in some ways, Aer Lingus already has a jet able to working related companies (between Eire and the Northeast of the USA and Canada).
For Aer Lingus, the best good thing about the A321XLR would simply be absolute development, somewhat than essentially opening up new markets. In the meantime Iberia doesn’t have a comparable jet but.
Backside line
If all goes as deliberate, Iberia would be the international launch buyer for the Airbus A321XLR, and will begin flying the jet as of late 2024. That is an thrilling new plane that’s going to open up all types of recent markets for airways. Iberia states that it’ll fly these plane from Madrid to each Boston and Washington, although we’ll have to remain tuned for the main points (hopefully sooner or later it’s used to really open up new markets, somewhat than downgrade current routes).
Aer Lingus was presupposed to be the launch buyer for the A321XLR, although a pay dispute with pilots has triggered the airline to defer these deliveries.
What do you make of Iberia’s Airbus A321XLR plans?
