A321XLR Lands, But It’s a One-Way Ticket to Storage

American Airlines is poised to usher in its debutante from the Airbus A321XLR lineup. Quite a badge of honor for American, as they’ll be the trailblazers in the US to house this swanky bird in their fleet. But don’t get too excited just yet; those aisle seats will be collecting dust instead of mileage – for now.

American’s Armory of 50 Airbus A321XLRs

Back in the good old days of 2019, American Airlines decided to splurge on a whopping 50 Airbus A321XLR aircraft. Now, if you haven’t heard of the A321XLR, let me introduce you to the longest range narrow-body jet currently in production. Picture the A321 family but with longer legs; we’re talking endless range improvements over its cousins, the A321neo and the A321LR. These jets are already marathon runners compared to the older A321ceo.

Airline execs everywhere are buzzing with excitement at the thought of the A321XLR. It opens the door to these alluring long, thin routes which, let’s face it, are just too anorexic for the wide bodies. It’s both a blessing and a beautiful nightmare for passengers. My jaunts with Val Seny ski resort along with testing out the Aer Lingus and Iberia A321XLRs were an experience, thanks to these airlines being the aircraft’s inaugural customers.

Initially, the plan was to have these airborne wonders arriving in 2023. American was anticipated to have a small squadron by now – eight in 2023, and a score each in 2024 and 2025. However, bureaucratic red tape (aka aircraft certification delays) had other plans.

According to a well-placed source, American will finally get its first A321XLR on July 29, 2025. A date that promises to be just around the proverbial corner.

The Interior Dilemma: Why American’s A321XLR Destined for Storage

As American embraces its first Airbus A321XLR, disruptions are on the horizon. The plane isn’t heading stateside; instead, it’s journeying to Czechia for some necessary alone time – in storage. But why the seemingly unromantic getaway? Because the interiors still need their glow-up.

The snag holding the A321XLRs back from their big debut is none other than seating conundrums. Due to global supply chain woes, the seats aren’t ready. Getting these planes up and running was already two years in the red, and pulling out excuses is an aviation sport of sorts. Case in point: Delta experienced a similar fate with its premium A321neo jets.

Once those seats finally show up, they’ve still got to get through the testing phase. Optimistically, we’re looking at flights ready by the end of 2025. But in the airline belly of the beast, timelines love to double before they can solidly take off (Lufthansa’s timelines, however, may require quintuple digits).

Peering Inside: What American’s A321XLRs Have in Store

American’s latest fleet additions come with a snazzy three-cabin spread – think business, premium economy, and economy. The star of the show, business class, boasts 20 seats, while 12 pamper passengers in premium economy style. Quite the fancy ensemble.

The A321XLRs are sporting herringbone business class seats decked out in a sharp 1-1 configuration. It oozes the same chic JetBlue Airbus A321LR Mint cabin vibe – different interiors, yet a similar laid-back flair.

Premium economy aims for elegance with a neat 2-2 seating layout, reminiscent of domestic first class arrangements. The seats appear to channel Delta’s Airbus A321neo first-class seating, offering a dash of contemporary comfort.

Future Routes to Watch

As for routes, American has interesting plans for these jets. Initially penciled in for premium transcontinental escapades currently held by the A321T subfleet. But fear not, those planes are gradually getting a domestic-style overhaul, while some of those routes will enjoy a surprise upgrade featuring the 777s.

Eventually, you can expect American to fly A321XLRs on some international long-haul flights. The prime suspects? The usual Northeast hubs – New York (JFK) and Philadelphia (PHL) – spreading their wings to Europe.

The Bottom Line

American is on the cusp of a new dawn with its first Airbus A321XLR. But for now, it’s bound for a timeout in storage, waiting for its seats that hold an awfully overdue external reservation – no thanks to delays. If you’re banking on a year-end launch, place that bet cautiously.

So, what’s your take on the American Airlines A321XLR fares coming your way?