Airbus has formally launched a long range version of
the A321 with a 97-ton maximum take-off weight (MTOW).
First deliveries of the new Airbus A321neo version
are planned for 2019. The aircraft will be equipped with a third auxiliary center
fuel tank and could fly around 500-nm farther than the A321ceo with a regular
93.5 MTOW (and only two additional fuel tanks).
For the aircraft, Airbus now assumes a standard
cabin layout for 206 passengers. Airbus claims the calculated 4,000-nm range even
exceeds the 3,850 nm of the winglet-equipped Boeing 757-200W.
Airbus initially pitched the aircraft to airlines in
a premium 164-seat layout with 20 seats in business class, 30 in
premium-economy class, and 114 in economy. But discussions with potential
customers showed that many airlines are interested in higher seat counts. In
the premium configuration, the A321neo LR range decreases slightly to 3,904 nm
because of extreme assumptions in terms of weight per passenger.
Airbus is targeting airlines that currently fly the
Boeing 757 on long-range routes, as well those that would fly such routes but
cannot for lack of a suitable aircraft. Key routes defining the aircraft’s
needed capabilities were U.S. East Coast to Central Europe, Europe to the
Middle East, North to South America, Europe to West Africa, and Australia to
South Asia.
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