The A321XLR received its type certificate from EASA, Europe’s civil aviation agency, on Friday. The variant equipped with CFM LEAP-1A engines is for now the only one approved and accounts for around 190 of the 500 orders for the aircraft.
The variant with Pratt & Whitney GTF engines is a little behind in the certification process and should be released for service at the end of the year.
What was not known until now is that the EASA-approved A321XLR has a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 97 tons and not 101 tons, as announced by Airbus in 2019.
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The information was confirmed by the European authority to Flight Global, which also said that Airbus intends to certify a heavier version, with the original 101 tons and a new optional front central tank.
To offer a range of 4,700 nm (8,700 km), the A321XLR received a new Rear Central Tank (RCT), with an extra 12,900 liters and which increased fuel capacity to 39,750 liters.
The new aircraft can theoretically carry around 240 passengers, however, due to the type of long-distance route it will serve, its operators will certainly configure it with mixed classes.
The A321XLR will enter service on transoceanic flights in November with Iberia, its launch customer that will initially place it on the Madrid-Boston route.
