Iberia will be the global launch operator of the A321-200NY(XLR), taking over from Aer Lingus due to a pay dispute involving the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association.
Iberia plans to deploy the new long-haul narrowbody aircraft to serve routes from Madrid Barajas to Boston and Washington Dulles, featuring 14 business-class seats and 168 economy seats.
IAG originally ordered fourteen A321neo(XLR)s, with six intended for Aer Lingus and eight for Iberia; Iberia’s first potential A321neo(XLR) is msn 11504, currently marked with the airline’s decals.
The A321neo(XLR) is still undergoing certification, facing specific safety standards proposed by the US FAA for its integral rear centre tank, with comments on these conditions due by June 21, 2024.
The FAA said: “due to its unusual configuration, the A321neo(XLR) integral RCT will also not incorporate the insulation that usually lines the fuselage skin of a modern transport category airplane. Therefore, the FAA has issued a set of special conditions to address that novel or unusual aspect. Those special conditions require that the lower half of the fuselage resist penetration from an external fuel-fed fire, in order to ensure that the design provides the same level of passenger protection from such fires.”
