First A321XLR with PW GTF engines delivered by Airbus
Six months after delivering the world’s first A321XLR, Airbus has managed to do the same with the Pratt & Whitney GTF-powered variant.
On Tuesday, the manufacturer delivered the first A321XLR with the turbofan to Wizz Air. The low-cost carrier has 47 firm orders for the ultra-long-range variant of the A321neo.
It is capable of flying up to 4,700 nm (8,700 km) non-stop and is configured with 239 seats in a single class.
The delivery, however, was considerably delayed. Wizz Air had scheduled the debut of the A321XLR on March 31 on a flight between London (Gatwick) and Mecca, Saudi Arabia, but had to postpone the plan.
Airbus had managed to certify the A321XLR in July last year, but only in the version with CFM Leap-1A engines. The first delivery, however, only took place at the end of October, to Iberia.
Two other jets were delivered in December to Aer Lingus, also a member of the IAG Group.
Type certification for the A321-271NY, as the A321XLR with GTF engines is designated, was only obtained at the beginning of 2025, however.
The jet delivered to Wizz Air received the registration G-XLRA and flew for the first time on March 18.
The airline is the third customer to receive the A321XLR, but in the coming months the list is expected to grow with the addition of other carriers such as Qantas, American Airlines and Air Canada.
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