Airbus A321

The Airbus A321 is a member of the Airbus A320 family of short to medium range, narrow-body, commercial passenger twin engine jet airliners;Template:Efn it carries 185 to 236 passengers. It has a stretched fuselage which was the first derivative of the baseline A320 and entered service in 1994, about six years after the original A320. The aircraft shares a common type rating with all other Airbus A320-family variants, allowing A320-family pilots to fly the aircraft without the need for further training.

In December 2010, Airbus announced a new generation of the A320 family, the A320neo (new engine option).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The similarly lengthened fuselage A321neo variant offers new, more efficient engines, combined with airframe improvements and the addition of winglets (called Sharklets by Airbus). The aircraft delivers fuel savings of up to 15%. The A321neo carries up to 244 passengers, with a maximum range of Template:Cvt for the long-range version when carrying no more than 206 passengers.<ref name="A321 specifications2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Final assembly of the aircraft takes place in Hamburg, Germany, Mobile, Alabama, United States, Tianjin, China,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Toulouse, France.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:As of, a total of 3,485 A321 airliners have been delivered, of which 3,402 are in service. In addition, another 5,305 A321neo aircraft are on firm order. American Airlines is the largest operator of the Airbus A321 with 302 examples in its fleet.<ref name="Airbus O&D" />

Development

File:Lufthansa.a321-100.d-aire.arp.jpg

The A321 entered service in January 1994 with Lufthansa; seen here is an A321-100.

The Airbus A321 was the first derivative of the A320, also known as the Stretched A320, A320-500 and A325.<ref name="N&W p.50-53">Template:Cite book </ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Its launch came on 24 November 1988, around the same time as the A320 entered service, after commitments for 183 aircraft from 10 customers were secured.<ref name="N&W p.50-53"/><ref name="Reed p.84"/>

File:A321 final assembly (9351765668).jpg

An Airbus A321 on final assembly line 3 in the Airbus Hamburg-Finkenwerder plant

The maiden flight of the Airbus A321 came on 11 March 1993, when the prototype, registration F-WWIA, flew with IAE V2500 engines; the second prototype, equipped with CFM56-5B turbofans, flew in May 1993. Lufthansa and Alitalia were the first to order the stretched Airbuses, with 20 and 40 aircraft requested, respectively. The first of Lufthansa's V2500-A5-powered A321s arrived on 27 January 1994, while Alitalia received its first CFM56-5B-powered aircraft on 22 March 1994.<ref name="Eden-25"/> The A321-100 entered service in January 1994 with Lufthansa.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Final assembly for the A321 was carried out in Germany (then West Germany), a first for any Airbus.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> This came after a dispute between the French, who claimed that the move would incur $150 million (€135 million) in unnecessary expenditure associated with the new plant,<ref name="N&W p.50-53"/> and the Germans, who claimed that it would be more productive for Airbus in the long run. The second production line was located in Hamburg, which later produced the smaller Airbus A319 and A318. For the first time, Airbus entered the bond market, through which it raised $480 million (€475 million) to finance development costs.<ref name="Reed p.84">Template:Cite book</ref> An additional $180 million (€175 million) was borrowed from European Investment Bank and private investors.<ref>Template:Harvnb</ref>

The A321 is the largest variant of the A320 family.<ref name="A320 specifications" /><ref name="A321 specifications2" /> The A321-200's length exceeds Template:Cvt, increasing maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) to Template:Cvt.<ref name="N&W p.50-53" /> Wingspan remained unchanged, supplementing various wingtip devices. Two suppliers provided turbofan engines for the A321: CFM International with its CFM56 and International Aero Engines with the V2500 engine, both in the thrust range of Template:Cvt.

Over 30 years since launch, the A321 MTOW grew by 20% from the Template:Cvt -100 to the Template:Cvt A321XLR, seating became 10% more dense with 244 seats, up by 24, and range doubled from Template:Cvt.<ref name=Flight15jul2019 /> By 2019, 4,200 had been ordered—one-quarter of all Airbus single-aisles—including 2,400 neos, one-third of all A320neo orders.<ref name=Flight15jul2019>Template:Cite news</ref>

Design

File:Airbus A321-..., Lufthansa AN0620267.jpg

The A321 has double-slotted flaps.

The Airbus A321 is a narrow-body (single-aisle) aircraft with a retractable tricycle landing gear, powered by two wing pylon-mounted turbofan engines. It is a low-wing cantilever monoplane with a conventional tail unit having a single vertical stabilizer and rudder. Changes from the A320 include a fuselage stretch and some modifications to the wing. The fuselage was lengthened by a Template:Cvt plug ahead of the wing and a Template:Cvt plug behind it, making the A321 Template:Convert longer than the A320.<ref name="A321 specifications2" /><ref name="A320 specifications">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="N&W p.50-53" /><ref name="Gunston-213–215">Template:Cite book</ref> The length increase required the overwing window exits of the A320 to be converted into door exits and repositioned in front of and behind the wings.<ref name="Eden-25">Template:Cite book</ref> To maintain performance, double-slotted flaps and minor trailing edge modifications were included,<ref name="N&W p.50-53"/> increasing the wing area from Template:Cvt to Template:Cvt.<ref name="A321 described">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The centre fuselage and undercarriage were reinforced to accommodate a Template:Cvt increase in maximum takeoff weight, taking it to Template:Cvt.<ref name="N&W p.50-53" />

Variants

The variants of A321ceo and A321neo family aircraft are mainly defined by its cabin layout and fuel configuration.

Airbus offers customers with only one fuel configuration with the A321-100.

Airbus offers customers with 3 different fuel configuration options with the A321-200: customers can select up to 2 auxiliary fuel tanks (ACT) in the after cargo hold.

Airbus offers customers with 4 different fuel configuration options with the standard A321neo: customers can select up to 1 auxiliary fuel tank (ACT) in the front cargo hold and up to 2 ACTs in the after cargo hold. The A321neo-ACF with 3 ACTs is exclusively branded as A321LR (Long Range).

Airbus offers customers with 2 different fuel configuration options with the A321XLR: customers can select up to 1 ACT in the front cargo hold.

citation

CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Marketing name	Cabin	Fuel config		Fuel capacity	Cargo
Front			Rear
A321-100 CFMI	STD	—	—	Template:Convert	10*LD3-45
A321-100 IAE				Template:Convert	10*LD3-45
A321-200 CFMI			—	Template:Convert	10*LD3-45
			1ACT	Template:Convert	9*LD3-45
			2ACT	Template:Convert	8*LD3-45
A321-200 IAE			—	Template:Convert	10*LD3-45
			1ACT	Template:Convert	9*LD3-45
			2ACT	Template:Convert	8*LD3-45
A321neo	STD	—	—	Template:Convert	10*LD3-45
			1ACT	Template:Convert	9*LD3-45
			2ACT	Template:Convert	8*LD3-45
A321neo ACF	ACF	—	—	Template:Convert	10*LD3-45
		—	1ACT	Template:Convert	9*LD3-45
		—	2ACT	Template:Convert	8*LD3-45
A321LR		1ACT	2ACT	Template:Convert	7*LD3-45
A321XLR		—	1RCT	Template:Convert	8*LD3-45
		1ACT	1RCT	Template:Convert	7*LD3-45

File:Airbus A32X family v1.0.png

Airbus A32X family

File:N162UW (45250787704).jpg

The A320's overwing exits were replaced by type 'C' doors in front of and behind the wings for the A321, although some A321neos with the Cabin Flex arrangement kept the overwing exits.

A321-100

The original derivative of the A321, the A321-100, had shorter range than the A320 because no extra fuel tank was added to compensate for the increased weight. The MTOW of the A321-100 is Template:Cvt. The A321-100 entered service with Lufthansa in 1994. Only about 90 were produced; a few were later converted to the A321-200 variant.Template:Cn

A321-200

Airbus began development of the heavier and longer-range A321-200 in 1995 to give the A321 full-passenger transcontinental US range. This was achieved through higher thrust engines (V2533-A5 or CFM56-5B3), minor structural strengthening, and an increase in fuel capacity with the installation of one or two optional Template:Cvt tanks in the rear underfloor hold.<ref name="Gunston-213–215"/> The additional fuel tanks increased the total capacity to Template:Cvt. These modifications also increased the maximum takeoff weight of the A321-200 to Template:Cvt. This variant first flew in December 1996, and entered service with Monarch Airlines in April 1997. The following month, Middle East Airlines received its first A321-200 in May 1997. Its direct competitors include the 757-200 and the 737-900/900ER.

A321neo

File:Tc-lsa (42253295235).jpg

The A321neo has larger CFM LEAP or PW1000G turbofans. This Turkish Airlines A321neo has PW1000G engines.

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On 1 December 2010, Airbus launched the A320neo family (neo for New Engine Option) with Template:Cvt more range and 15% better fuel efficiency, thanks to new CFM International LEAP-1A or Pratt & Whitney PW1000G engines and large sharklets.<ref name="101201PR">Template:Cite press release</ref> The lengthened A321neo prototype made its first flight on 9 February 2016.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It received its type certification on 15 December 2016.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> The first entered service in May 2017 with Virgin America.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

A321LR

File:4X-AGK Independence Day 09-05-2019b.jpg

An Arkia A321LR in 2019

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In October 2014, Airbus started marketing a longer range Template:Cvt maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) variant with three auxiliary fuel tanks, giving it Template:Cvt more operational range than a Boeing 757-200.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Airbus launched the A321LR (Long Range) on 13 January 2015; it has a range of Template:Cvt with 206 seats in two classes.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On 31 January 2018, the variant completed its first flight.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Airbus announced its certification on 2 October 2018.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> On 13 November 2018, Arkia received the first A321LR.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

A321XLR

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File:Iberia Airbus A321XLR EC-OIL on final approach to Boston March 2025 2.jpg

An A321XLR of launch customer Iberia

The A321XLR is an A321LR variant with a further increased MTOW<ref name=AvWeek31jan2018>Template:Cite news</ref> intended to compete with the Boeing NMA,<ref name=AvWeek20jul2018>Template:Cite news</ref> which has since been put on hold.

The variant was launched at the June 2019 Paris Air Show, with a range of Template:Cvt. It included a new permanent Rear Centre Tank (RCT) for more fuel, a strengthened landing gear for a Template:Cvt MTOW and an optimised wing trailing-edge flap configuration to preserve take-off performance.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>

In June 2022, the A321XLR completed its first flight.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Aer Lingus was originally to be the launch customer of the A321XLR. However, due to internal pilot contract disputes, the first A321XLR was instead delivered to Iberia on October 30, 2024.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The first flight with passengers was on November 6, 2024.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The first long-haul flight with passengers was on 14 November 2024, from Madrid to Boston.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Freighter conversion

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While no freighter version of the A321 has been built new by Airbus, a first attempt of converting used A320/321 into freighter aircraft was undertaken by Airbus Freighter Conversion GmbH. The program, however, was canceled in 2011 before any aircraft were converted.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>

On 17 June 2015, ST Aerospace signed agreements with Airbus and EFW for a collaboration to launch the A320/A321 passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversion programme.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> The initial converted aircraft first flew on 22 January 2020. On 27 October 2020, the first A321-200P2F was delivered to launch operator Qantas Freight.<ref name=AWM-P2F>Template:Cite news</ref>

The A321-200PCF is a passenger to freighter conversion, developed by Precision Conversions and certificated in 2021.

Sine Draco Aviation also offers an A321 passenger-to-freighter conversion programme; its first conversion is expected for the first quarter of 2022.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On 15 March 2022, Lufthansa Cargo started to operate its A321F, a cargo variant of the A321.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Operators

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:As of, 3,402 Airbus A321 aircraft (1701 ceo+1701 neo) were in service with more than 100 operators.<ref name="Airbus O&D"/> American Airlines and Delta Air Lines operate the largest A321 fleets of 302 and 200 aircraft, respectively.<ref name="Airbus O&D" />

Orders and deliveries

Type	Orders		Deliveries
	Total	Backlog	Total	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
A321ceo	1,784	—	1,784	—	—	—	—	22	9	38	99	183	222	184
A321neo	7,006	5,305	1,701	92	361	317	264	199	178	168	102	20	—	—
(A321)	(8,790)	(5,305)	(3,485)	(92)	(361)	(317)	(264)	(221)	(187)	(206)	(201)	(203)	(222)	(184)

Type	Deliveries
	2014	2013	2012	2011	2010	2009	2008	2007	2006	2005	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000	1999	1998	1997	1996	1995	1994
A321ceo	150	102	83	66	51	87	66	51	30	17	35	33	35	49	28	33	35	22	16	22	16
A321neo	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
(A321)	(150)	(102)	(83)	(66)	(51)	(87)	(66)	(51)	(30)	(17)	(35)	(33)	(35)	(49)	(28)	(33)	(35)	(22)	(16)	(22)	(16)

Data Template:As of<ref name="Airbus O&D"/><ref name="Airbus_Hist_OD">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Accidents and incidents

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For the Airbus A321, 32 aviation accidents and incidents have occurred,<ref>Airbus A321 occurrences Template:Webarchive. Aviation Safety, 3 October 2017.</ref> including six hull-loss accidents or criminal occurrences with a total of 377 fatalities as of August 2019.<ref>Airbus A321 hull-loss occurrences Template:Webarchive. Aviation Safety, 3 October 2017.</ref><ref>A321 accident statistics Template:Webarchive. Aviation Safety, 3 October 2017.</ref>

Specifications

Variant	A321<ref name="A321 specifications2" />	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	A321LR	A321XLR
Cockpit crew	Two
2-class seats	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	206 (16Template:Abbr @ 36Template:Nbspin + 190Template:Abbr @ 30Template:Nbspin)<ref name=a321LR >{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation			CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1-class max.	220 @ 28Template:Nbspin<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	220 @ 28Template:Nbspin (Original) 244 @ 28Template:Nbspin (Cabin-Flex)<ref name=AusBT13jun2014>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	244 @ 28Template:Nbspin<ref name=AusBT13jun2014 />
Cargo capacity	Template:Cvt / 10×LD3-45sTemplate:Efn
Length	Template:Cvt
Wingspan	Template:CvtTemplate:Efn
Wing	Template:Cvt area, 25° sweep<ref name=elsevier>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation				CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Height	Template:Cvt
Fuselage	Template:Cvt width × height, Template:Cvt wide cabin
Max. takeoff weight	Template:Cvt		Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt
Max. payload	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt<ref name=Acap/>Template:Rp
Op. empty weight	Template:Cvt<ref name=AllAbout/>	Template:Cvt
Fuel capacity	Template:Cvt	Template:CvtTemplate:Efn	Template:CvtTemplate:Efn	Template:Cvt
Engines (×2)	CFM56-5B, Template:Cvt fan IAE V2500-A5, Template:Cvt fan	CFM LEAP-1A, 78 in (1.98 m) fan PW1100G-JM, 81 in (2.06 m) fan
Max. thrust (×2)<ref name=typecert/>	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt
Speed	Cruise: Template:Cvt<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation				CitationClass=web }}</ref> Max.: Template:Cvt<ref name=typecert/>
Ceiling	Template:Cvt<ref name=typecert>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation				CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Typical range	Template:CvtTemplate:Efn	Template:Cvt<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:CvtTemplate:Efn	Template:Cvt

Engines

Aircraft model	Certification date	Engines<ref name=typecert/>	Take-off thrust	Max. continuous
A321-111	27 May 1994	CFM56-5B1	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt
A321-112	15 February 1994	CFM56-5B2 or 5B2/P	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt
A321-131	17 December 1993	IAE V2530-A5	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt
A321-211	20 March 1997	CFM56-5B3 or 5B3/P or 5B3/2P	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt
A321-212	31 August 2001	CFM56-5B1 or 5B1/P or 5B1/2P	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt
A321-213	31 August 2001	CFM56-5B2 or 5B2/P	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt
A321-231	20 March 1997	IAE V2533-A5	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt
A321-232	31 August 2001	IAE V2530-A5	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt
A321-251N	15 December 2016	CFM LEAP-1A32	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt
A321-252N	18 December 2017	CFM LEAP-1A30	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt
A321-253N	3 March 2017	CFM LEAP-1A33	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt
A321-271N	15 December 2016	PW1133G-JM	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt
A321-272N	23 May 2017	PW1130G-JM	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt
A321-251NX	22 March 2018	CFM LEAP-1A32	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt
A321-252NX	22 March 2018	CFM LEAP-1A30	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt
A321-253NX	22 March 2018	CFM LEAP-1A33	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt
A321-271NX	22 March 2018	PW1133G-JM	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt
A321-272NX	22 March 2018	PW1130G-JM	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt

External links

• Official website