News
Europe and U.S. certify Airbus A321LR
October 5th 2018
The A321neo has been certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to operate with three additional centre fuel tanks (ACTs) to enable the aircraft to conduct long-range operations. Read More »
The long-range variant of the aircraft, designated the A321LR, is able to operate flights of up to 4,000nm with 206 passengers and has obtained approval for extended twin-engine operations (ETOPS) up to 180 minutes, “sufficient for performing any transatlantic route”, Airbus said.
Certification of the A321LR included approval to install the three ACTs along with the related structural reinforcements and new fuel-management system. It also involved modifications to the aircraft fuselage, owing to the need to relocate the exit doors, as well as clearance to operate at a maximum take-off weight of 97 tons, up from 93-95 tons on the A321ceo.
Low-cost carriers Jetstar Airways, Norwegian, Air Arabia and Peach Aviation have ordered the A321LR. Malaysia’s AirAsia Group is mulling an order conversion from the A321neo to the A321LR. Qatar Airways will start taking delivery of A321LRs from the beginning of 2020. The single aisle A321LR will operate “thin intercontinental routes”, Qatar has said.
Separately, Airbus has announced it had received EASA type certification for the A330-900neo, paving the way for first delivery to launch customer TAP Portugal “soon”.
