US carriers expect to receive first A321XLRs next year as certifications progress

US airlines are gearing up to acquire their first Airbus A321XLRs, after the FAA recently certificated the variant of the 4,700nm (8,704km)-range jet powered by CFM International Leap-1A turbofans. American Airlines and JetBlue Airways each say they expect to receive their first A321XLRs in 2025. JetBlue is more specific, saying it anticipates acquiring the first in autumn 2025 and to close next year with two in its fleet. United Airlines, meanwhile, has said it expects to receive its first A321XLR in early 2026 and to use the jets to replace its Boeing 757s. Those three airlines are the only US carriers holding orders for the long-range Airbus narrowbody. The aircraft has been marketed by Airbus as a middle-market jet adept at economically flying long-range routes that connect secondary cities – a mission that had similarly been targeted by Boeing with its out-of-production 757. Europe’s aviation regulator EASA certificated the Leap-1A-powered A321XLR in July. The FAA followed with its own validation of the aircraft, also only with the Leap-1A, in October. The type entered service on 14 October when Iberia operated an A321XLR from Madrid to Boston.<br/>