Cramped quarters of new Airbus jet shake up Iberia cabin routine

Travelers on Iberia’s Airbus A321XLR maiden flight from Madrid to Boston will notice some subtle changes to the passenger experience on board the narrowbody jet, which is capable of serving long-distance routes that were previously the reserve of larger planes. The Spanish carrier will distribute meals in one go rather than splitting up starters, mains and dessert, and drinks will be served separately from food. A water boiler at the back of the plane will fill thermos flasks to avoid back-and-forth journeys to the coffee machine, said Iberia spokespeople presenting the aircraft ahead of its flight. The complicated choreography seeks to address a key challenge of the long-range Airbus SE model, namely that its narrow single aisle presents a potential bottleneck for passengers and flight attendants moving up and down the corridor during flight. Airbus has positioned the plane as an efficient alternative to more fuel-guzzling and sometimes too-large widebody jets like its A330 or A350 models, which come with far wider cabins and provide more maneuverability down two parallel aisles.<br/>