TAP Air Portugal took an important step in the renewal plan of its fleet by receiving its first A321LR of an order of 12 aircraft. Powered by the CFM Leap-1A engines, the A321LR has the longest range for narrowbody airliner – 7,400 kilometers – in adittion to carrying 171 passengers – 16 in business class, 48 in premium economy and 107 and economy. Thank to this, TAP will put the new aircraft on transatlantic routes from Lisbon and Porto to US east coast and Brazil´s northeast region.
“The A321LR is critical for TAP’s expansion plans. With its superior range we can comfortably explore markets in North America, South America and Africa from Portugal, and it’ll fit in seamlessly with our A330neos,” said Antonoaldo Neves, CEO, TAP Air Portugal. “In North America it allows us to explore markets on the East Coast, such as New York, Boston, Montreal or Washington. In Brazil the A321LR can open new markets in the Northeast and complement existing services to cities like Recife, Natal, Fortaleza or Salvador,” he added.
“We applaud TAP Air Portugal for becoming the first airline to leverage the benefits of the A321LR and the A330neo in a common fleet. The A321LR and A330neo working in tandem have the middle market segment nicely covered. Both with the most contemporary technology and cabin comfort in their class,” said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer.
But the first A321LR route will be Lisbon-Tel Aviv, in Israel. TAP also has already five Airbus A330neo that fly on the busiest routes of the company.
Currently, TAP operates complete Airbus fleet with 75 aircrafts, comprising five A330neo, 13 A330ceo, 4 A340s, 21 A319ceo, 20 A320ceo, four A321ceo, two A320neo and six A321neo.
