by Tim Hepher
PARIS (Reuters) – Airbus has seen a drop in the range of its next jetliner, the A321XLR, after reaching an agreement with European regulators on the safety features needed to obtain certification, according to industry sources.
The aircraft manufacturer was therefore forced to offer some of its customers potential offers for its larger A330neo model to compensate for this discrepancy, the sources said.
“Airbus does not expect a significant impact on the A321XLR’s unique advantage in the single-aisle segment,” an Airbus spokesman told Reuters.
Airbus is touting the A321 XLR as a game-changer among its fleet of narrow-body aircraft, with the aircraft featuring longer range made possible by the addition of a new rear center fuel tank, molded into the lower fuselage.
However, industry regulators have raised concerns about fire risks and evacuation times in the event of an accident, which has delayed the plane’s entry into service, scheduled for the second quarter of 2024.
Airbus Director of Programs and Services Philippe Mhun said last month that the group had reached an agreement with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to obtain certification.
In particular, the EASA requested that modifications be made to the central rear fuel tank of the aircraft.
All of the changes to the structure, however, would have added some 700 to 800 kilos to the weight of the aircraft, compared to earlier estimates of 200 to 300 kilos.
This additional weight would reduce the maximum range of the A321XLR by around 370 kilometers, officially estimated by Airbus at 8,700 km, two sources explained.
(Reporting by Tim Hepher, additional reporting by Rajesh Kumar Singh, French version Dina Kartit, editing by Camille Raynaud)
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