Aer Lingus has revived plans to add the A321XLR to its fleet in the future. The ultra-long-range narrowbody aircraft from Airbus was due to have the Irish carrier as its launch customer, but a pilot wage dispute has changed IAG Group’s plans.
Instead of Aer Lingus, Iberia has become the launch customer for the aircraft, which was recently certified by EASA and will have its first jet delivered in September.
IAG ordered 14 A321XLRs shortly after the variant’s launch in 2019. Eight of them will be received by Iberia while the rest are expected to be passed to Aer Lingus, should the company decide where to deploy them.
According to the airline’s CEO, Lynne Embleton, Aer Lingus is now evaluating the possibilities of the A321neo after the Irish Air Line Pilots’ Association (IALPA) accepted a proposal for a 17.7% increase over four years for pilots.
Transatlantic routes
Aer Lingus flies 13 first-generation Airbus A330 widebodies and the A321XLR could replace them on some routes, offering a significantly lower operating cost.
The airline’s three A330-200s seat between 260 and 270 passengers in two classes, while Iberia’s A321XLR is being configured with just 182 seats.
In theory, however, the new single-aisle jet could replace the widebody on flights from Dublin to destinations such as Denver and Minneapolis in the US.
The new pay deal will allow Aer Lingus pilots to fly both within Europe and on transatlantic routes.
