Airbus is now within touching distance of launching its A321XLR model after receiving type certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
The new aircraft is the latest addition to the manufacturer’s best-selling A320 family of planes and is touted as a more flexible and sustainable alternative to widebody aircraft for long haul routes with variable demand.
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Christian Scherer, CEO of Airbus Commerical Aircraft, said: “Here comes the A321XLR, a differentiated product that brings new value to the market, expanding the possibilities for our airline customers and passengers.
“With its long range, the A321XLR enables a host of new direct routes, offering natural growth opportunities to our customers and the travelling public.”
EASA approval comes after a five-year flight test and certification programme which Airbus said was more intensive than the usual ‘type’ approval process for model variations thanks to the A321XLR’s significant and wide-ranging differences to the standard A321.
Notably, the EASA was concerned about the safety of the aircraft’s 12,900 litre fuel tank, which is integrated within the fuselage and presented concerns about its vulnerability to catastrophe.
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By GlobalDataMichael Singer, EASA’s head of department for large aeroplanes, explained: “We needed to be sure that the design location of the tank would not in itself trigger a safety issue, that the tank was adequately robust and crash resistant, even in a case where the landing gear failed or an unknown threat such as an item on the runway could damage the tank.
However, the agency said that Airbus’ design used stronger material compositions and additional supporting structures to improve crash resistance, and added an inner liner to the fuel tank to limit leakages.
Over the five-year process, the EASA said it has attended more than 400 joint meetings with Airbus technical aircraft, overseen 900 flight test hours on three prototypes, and approved more than 500 certification documents.
The A321XLR is expected to begin commercial service in November with a debut flight by Iberia from Madrid, Spain to Boston, US, while more than 500 of the aircraft are also on order for major airlines including Qantas, Flynas, and Aer Lingus.
The good news of the approval will be especially welcome for Airbus as it comes less than a month after the manufacturer saw its shares drop when it announced a cut in its profit and delivery forecasts for the year, citing supply chain issues and engine shortages.
