EASA Requirements May Impact Range of Airbus A321XLR, Airbus Remains Optimistic

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has outlined requirements that could potentially affect the range of the Airbus A321XLR, which is yet to be certified. These regulations aim to enhance safety by adding protective measures to the rear center tank (RCT) located below the cabin floor. As a result, the A321XLR’s range of 4,700 nautical miles (8,700 kilometers) may be reduced by around 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) due to the additional weight. Despite this, Airbus remains confident in the aircraft’s unique range advantage and plans to secure certification by the end of 2023, with customer deliveries starting in Q2 2024. The A321XLR, a long-range version of the A321neo, is set to surpass its closest competitor, the A321LR, and the longest-range Boeing 737 MAX variant.