A321 XLR or A321NXLR

Question

Wikipedia says that the A321XLR, will entering service in 2024,but when you look at Airfleets. net, TAP Portugal has already serval A321NXLR in use, or is this a different Model? how many Variants of the A321neo are there and what X stands for?

Answer 1

The labels used on airfleets.net are indeed a bit confusing. Other sites write for example "A321-251NX/LR" to distinguish the "NX" from the "LR" part. Here is what everything means:

• N is added for all neo variants
• X refers to the Cabin Flex option that allows airlines to configure different emergency exits
• LR is the Long Range variant of the A321neo
• XLR is the Xtra Long Range variant of the A321neo

So the TAP Air Portugal aircraft are A321 LR aircraft with cabin flex, not XLR. The XLR should enter service later this year (2024). I don't know how airfleets.net will show this variant, but it should probably be something like "NX/XLR".

More on Cabin Flex:

• From the Airbus Newsroom in 2018:

  The A321neo in Cabin Flex configuration is an option today and will become standard for all A321neos around 2020.

  The A321neo in Cabin Flex configuration is also the base for a longer range variant known as the A321LR.

• Related question: Which category is A321-271NX in?