FLEET - Qantas takes delivery of its first Airbus A321XLR

Hamburg, Germany, 30 June 2025 - Australia's Qantas Airways is set to become the Asia-Pacific launch operator of the latest generation single aisle A321XLR following the delivery of its first aircraft from the Airbus assembly line in Finkenwerder, Hamburg.

Reflecting the long range capability of the A321XLR, the aircraft is flying from the Airbus facility to Sydney with just one crew rest stop in Bangkok.

Powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines, the Qantas A321XLR features a two class layout with 20 seats in Business Class and 177 in the main cabin. Qantas will initially operate the A321XLR on domestic services across Australia, with potential to open future new services on secondary routes to Asia.

Altogether the Qantas Group has ordered 40 A321XLRs under its fleet modernisation programme, with 28 aircraft allocated to Qantas and 12 to low cost subsidiary Jetstar. These are part of the airline’s outstanding orders with Airbus for 128 single aisle aircraft and 24 A350-1000 widebodies.

The A321XLR is the next evolutionary step of the A320neo Family, responding to market needs for more range and payload, creating even more flexibility and value for the airlines.

In typical airline service it offers the longest range of any single aisle aircraft - up to 4,700 nautical miles - and brings a reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions of 30% compared with previous generation competitor aircraft. To date, Airbus has secured more than 500 orders for the type.

As with all Airbus aircraft, the A321XLR aircraft is already able to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Airbus is targeting to have its aircraft capable of flying with up to 100% SAF by 2030.

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FLEET - Airbus delivers first A321neo for Kuwait Airways

Toulouse, France – Airbus has delivered the first A321neo to Kuwait Airways, the national carrier of the State of Kuwait. The delivery marks the first of nine A321neo aircraft on order with the airline and is part of Kuwait Airways’ transformation strategy, which includes fleet modernisation to drive growth.

Kuwait Airways’ A321neo features a spacious and modern cabin with 166 seats across two classes - 16 full-flat business class seats offering premium comfort and 150 economy class seats designed for enhanced passenger space. Passengers will enjoy the award-winning Airspace cabin, which offers a quieter and more relaxing atmosphere, with customisable lighting and the latest generation in-flight entertainment and connectivity systems.

The A321neo complements Kuwait Airways’ existing A320neo and A330neo fleet, enabling greater flexibility and operational efficiency across its network. The range and capacity of the A321neo makes it ideally suited for regional and medium-haul routes, including seasonal services to South Asian and European destinations.

Kuwait Airways currently operates a fleet of nine Airbus A320neo and six of the latest generation A330neo aircraft.

As with all Airbus aircraft, the A321neo is already able to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Airbus is targeting to have its aircraft up to 100% SAF capable by 2030.

To date, more than 7,000 A321neo aircraft have been ordered by more than 95 customers across the globe.

 

Air Canada orders six Airbus A321XLR to sustainably support network expansion from Canada

Toulouse, 22 March 2022 – Air Canada has confirmed an order with Airbus for six A321XLR aircraft, previously listed as undisclosed in the Airbus order book. With this commitment Air Canada’s A321XLR fleet will comprise 26 aircraft including 20 additional A321XLRs the carrier is acquiring through lessors.

“Air Canada is committed to further strengthen its market-leading position, especially through investments in new technology. The acquisition of the state-of-the-art Airbus A321XLR is an important element of this strategy and will drive our core priorities of elevating the customer experience, advancing our environmental goals, network expansion and increasing our overall cost efficiency. This order also shows that Air Canada is emerging strongly from the pandemic and is ideally positioned to grow, compete and thrive in a reshaped global aviation industry” said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada. “The exceptional versatility and performance of the A321XLR will enable Air Canada to further develop its network expansion in a sustainable way with increased efficiencies and reduced CO2 emissions,” said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International. “We thank Air Canada for its confidence in us and are delighted by the step-up in our longstanding relationship.” The A321XLR is a perfect fit for Air Canada's fleet, given its history of operating the entire A320-Family as well as Airbus' long-range A330-300 widebody and more recently, Airbus’ latest-generation single-aisle aircraft, the A220.

The new Airbus A321XLR aircraft is an ideal replacement for older and less fuel-efficient aircraft. The latest generation Single Aisle jet will allow Air Canada to add new destinations in the most sustainable way.

The A321XLR is the next evolutionary step in the A320neo Family of aircraft, meeting market requirements for increased range and payload in a single-aisle aircraft, and creating more value for airlines by enabling economically viable service on longer routes than any comparable aircraft model. It will allow services from Eastern Canada to a much larger selection of European destinations.

The A321XLR will deliver an unprecedented single-aisle aircraft range of up to 4,700nm, with 30% lower fuel consumption per seat compared to previous-generation aircraft as well as

reduced NOx emissions and noise. The aircraft will feature the Airbus Airspace cabin, offering a next level of long-haul comfort to passengers.

By the end of February 2022, the A320neo Family had accumulated nearly 7,900 orders from over 120 customers worldwide. A321XLR orders stood at 515 from 25 customers.