Iberia plans to introduce the first A321-200NY(XLR) into service on November 14, 2024, connecting Madrid Barajas to Boston, followed by service to Washington Dulles on January 15, 2025.
The A321neo(XLR) will feature a two-class configuration with 14 business seats and 168 economy seats.
MSN 11348 was to be taken by Aer Lingus as launch customer, and would have become EI-XLR upon delivery. It was recently spotted with the Irish company’s livery on its tail but Iberia’s logo on the engine. MSN 11504 has both its tail and engine with Iberia’s livery.
IAG replaced Aer Lingus with Iberia as the global launch operator of the XLR due to the ongoing pilot pay dispute, resulting in two A321neo(XLR) aircraft that could be the first delivered to Iberia.
Airbus is in the final stages of certification and flight-test campaign for the A321neo(XLR), of which IAG ordered fourteen, with six initially allocated to Aer Lingus and eight to Iberia.
