In what is probably the most anticipated order of the Paris Airshow, American Airlines has ordered 50 Airbus A321XLR.
American Airlines is converting 30 existing orders to the A321XLR while also ordering an additional 20 aircraft. The list price of the A321XLR is $142 million dollars per plane putting the new 20 aircraft deal valued at $2.84 billion dollars, but airlines never pay list price. American is hoping to start taking delivery of the plane as soon as 2023 with the following delivery scehdule:
- 8 Aircraft 2023
- 22 Aircraft 2024
- 20 Aircraft 2025
Current Fleet
American Airlines has one of the most diverse fleet’s in the industry, which is warranted as they are the world’s largest airline. Their fleet is comprised of:
- Airbus A319 – 129 Aircraft
- Airbus A320 – 48 Aircraft
- Airbus A321 – 221 Aircraft
- Airbus A321neo – 5 Aircraft
- Airbus A330-200 – 15 Aircraft
- Airbus A330-300 – 9 Aircraft
- Boeing 737-800 – 304 Aircraft
- Boeing 737 MAX 8 – 24 Aircraft
- Boeing 757-200 – 34 Aircraft
- Boeing 767-300ER – 21 Aircraft
- Boeing 777-200ER – 47 Aircraft
- Boeing 777-300ER – 20 Aircraft
- Boeing 787-8 – 20 Aircraft
- Boeing 787-9 – 22 Aircraft
- Embraer 190 – 20 Aircraft
- MD 82 – 1 Aircraft (To be Retired by September 4, 2019)
- MD 83 – 27 Aircraft (To be Retired by September 4, 2019)
Future Planes
The airline is currently in the middle of a fleet refresh as they have the following planes on order
- Airbus A319 – 5 Aircraft
- Airbus A321neo – 95 Aircraft
- Boeing 737 MAX 8 – 76 Aircraft
- Boeing 787-8 – 22 Aircraft
- Boeing 787-9 – 25 Aircraft
Where the Airbus A321XLR fits in at American Airlines
American Airlines is converting the 30 aircraft’s from the A321neo order. Our guess is that the Airbus A321XLR is going to help replace the aging Boeing 757 fleet and may even take over some of the 767-300ER flying as well. The American Airlines Boeing 767’s will be retired before the Airbus A321XLR comes into their fleet.
| Plane | Range | Seating Capacity |
| Boeing 757-200 | 4100 nm | Up to 239 pax |
| Boeing 767-300ER | 6400 nm | Up to 351 pax |
| Airbus A321 XLR | 4700 nm | Up to 220 pax |
I think we will be seeing the A321XLR flying lots of routes from Miami, especially to South America including some smaller cities that the airline may not be reaching today.
Additionally you can probably expect to see this plane flying from the northeastern United States to small to medium European cities
What sort of products American Airlines will put on board this plane is still TBD, but according to a video press release by American Airlines these planes will be pretty comfortable to fly on. American Airlines President Robert Isom suggests that the plane will have:
- Direct Aisle Access in Business Class for every seat
- Lie Flat seats in business class
- Premium economy (presumably a Domestic First Class seats set up in 2-2 configuration)
- World Class WiFi and Entertainment