dailynewsnblog
American Airlines recently held a preview event at New York JFK Airport for its new Airbus A321XLR on Thursday, December 11. Primarily, the event was to allow the press to explore the aircraft, but senior executives at the airline also provided some insight into the airline’s future strategy. With American’s long-haul network dwarfed\ by that of its rivals, the A321XLR promises to significantly expand its international reach.
American Airlines is the US launch customer for the Airbus A321XLR. The A321XLR is a long-range variant of the hugely popular Airbus A321neo, of which American Airlines is a prominent operator. American has ordered 50 A321XLRs and has already taken delivery of its first example. These planes are equipped with the CFM LEAP-1A, with a total capacity of 155 passengers.
American Airlines’ Plans With The A321XLR
American Airlines will first be deploying the Airbus A321XLR out of 
New York JFK Airport. Currently, American only deploys the Boeing 777 and Boeing 787-9 for long-range routes out of JFK, which are enormous airliners compared to the Boeing 767s flown by Delta Air Lines and United Airlines for transatlantic routes. The A321XLR will therefore allow American to launch new routes to smaller cities and maintain service during the lower-demand winter season.
Initially, American will use the A321XLR to replace its 15-strong Airbus A321-200 “321T” subfleet on transcontinental routes, but it will also be used on transatlantic services to smaller cities. American has already announced the A321XLR’s first European route (New York to Edinburgh). When speaking at the A321XLR preview at JFK, Brian Znotins, American’s Senior Vice President of Network Planning, stated,
“So, the XLR also introduces an ability for us to fly new markets like JFK to Edinburgh , across Europe, and even South America. By having an airplane that’s properly sized for demand of smaller markets, you’ll see us adding destinations in secondary France, Spain, Italy, Germany, and the UK.
Furthermore, as we take more airplanes, we’ll be deploying them into secondary markets in Brazil out of hubs like Miami and DFW. So, we’re really excited to have this airplane coming, it will first be deployed on our transcon, then going long-haul; and it will augment out existing 787 services that we’ve been launching like DFW to Auckland and Brisbane. Those two are flying with our newest Flagship Suite product on the 787P. We’ve added O’Hare to Heathrow and JFK to Heathrow on that airplane as well, and so rolling out these Flagship Suites across our network is something that our customers will love, and we certainly in network planning love doing it as well. “
Breaking Down American’s A321XLR Strategy
The Airbus A321XLR is primarily being purchased by airlines for transatlantic operations to smaller cities. This is exactly how American intends to use this aircraft, as evidenced by its initial European route to Edinburgh. Brian Znotins also specifically highlighted France, Spain, Italy, Germany, and the UK.
American already serves cities such as Nice, Naples, and Venice, but only from other hubs such as Philadelphia. Germany is only served from Dallas/Fort Worth and Charlotte. The A321XLR will permit American to serve these cities from JFK, which has high demand, but is also far more competitive than the carrier’s fortress hubs. In addition, American will be able to maintain these new services year-round, given the A321XLR’s small size.
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American Airlines A321XLR Bases |
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New York John F Kennedy International Airport (Confirmed) |
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Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (Likely) |
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Miami International Airport (Likely) |
Brian Znotins also mentioned basing the A321XLR in Miami and DFW for service to Brazil. American’s strongest long-haul market is South America, and the A321XLR’s exceptional range is more than sufficient to launch services to secondary Brazilian cities from Miami. DFW, however, is the more unusual choice as it simply has less demand to South America than Miami. Additionally, American lacks a joint venture partner with a major South American airline, and flights to South America from DFW are longer, increasing operating costs.
Winter Swap: American Airlines To Deploy Premium Boeing 787 On New York-London Route
This is the first time that a Dreamliner of any kind has operated American’s JFK-LHR route.
What The A321XLR Will Offer Passengers
Brian Znotins emphasizes the A321XLR’s interior. American Airlines doesn’t have the same premium brand as Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, and it’s falling behind its competitors. The A321XLR is coming with new seats, which will be a significant improvement over its last-generation cabins.
As per aeroLOPA, business class (now branded as Flagship Suites) will feature 20 Collins Aerospace Aurora herringbone suites with private doors. Premium economy will feature 12 Recaro R5 recliners, and 123 Collins Meridian slimline seats for economy. With privacy doors, winged headrests in premium economy, a new interior design standard, and improved technology, these aircraft will offer perhaps the best in-flight experience of any American Airlines jet, save for the new Boeing 787-9 “789P” subfleet.
