Airbus looks to A321 XLR to exit virus crisis

The Covid-19 pandemic has hit aircraft manufacturers hard but Airbus is already looking towards a new plane to help drive its recovery and get a leg up on rival Boeing. The A321 XLR will be the latest in Airbus's single-aisle A320 family when deliveries begin in 2023. The XLR stands for extra long range and the aircraft can more than handle crossing the North Atlantic, opening up the possibility airlines can use it on routes that have been the preserve of wide-body long-range aircraft up to now. Since the model was first presented at the Paris Air Show in June 2019 the aircraft has picked up more than 450 orders, including 37 last year. Airbus, which has said its new orders plunged 65% in 2020 to 268, releases earnings results on Thursday. "The XLR continues to enjoy a very strong market demand," Airbus commercial chief Christian Scherer said recently. Among the 24 clients for the A321 XLR are American Airlines and compatriot United Airlines, which have ordered 50 each, while Australia's Qantas wants 36.<br/>