General Atomics

Aer Lingus receives its first Airbus A321XLR aircraft

Ireland’s national carrier Aer Lingus recently received its first of six A321XLR aircraft, becoming the second in the world to operate the A321XLR as well as the second in the International Airlines Group (IAG).



Above: The first A321XLR for Aer Lingus taking off from Airbus Hamburg.
©Airbus


Powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines, the aircraft took off from the Airbus production site in Hamburg, Germany, on 18 December to Aer Lingus’ home base at Dublin airport, Ireland.

The Aer Lingus A321XLR is configured with 184 seats in a two-class layout featuring 16 full-flat Business Class and 168 Economy Class seats. .

The aircraft will enable Aer Lingus to operate new routes beyond the US East Coast and Canada, with destinations including Nashville and Indianapolis.

The A321XLR is the next evolutionary step of the A320neo Family, delivering an extra long range of up to 4,700 nautical miles, some 15% more range than the A321LR, with lower fuel burn per seat, NOx emissions and noise. So far, Airbus has secured more than 500 orders for the type.

As with all Airbus aircraft, the A321XLR aircraft is already able to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Airbus is targeting to have its aircraft up to 100% SAF capable by 2030.

Related

Virgin Atlantic faces UK Watchdog ‘price dripping’ probe
A Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350-1000XWB is on final approach to JFK Airport.
Virgin Atlantic faces UK Watchdog ‘price dripping’ probe
How Virgin Atlantic is under investigation for potentially misleading customers by hiding mandatory fees from headline prices.
Aerospace

19 Aug 2026

UK Government partners with Google in world-first contrail trial
Airplane leaves contrails in the sky with clouds on black background.
UK Government partners with Google in world-first contrail trial
The UK Government, Google and aviation partners have launched Operation Blue Skies, a £5 million trial testing AI-driven contrail avoidance over the North Atlantic.
Aerospace

18 Aug 2026

Serco and Baker Tilly UAE enter strategic partnership agreement
Serco Baker Tilly UAE MoU signing
Serco and Baker Tilly UAE enter strategic partnership agreement
A collaborative agreement between Serco and Baker Tilly UAE aims to bring their complementary disciplines to bear on pursuing a number of aviation and aerospace opportunities across markets in the Middle East.
Aerospace Member News

18 Aug 2026

Babcock engineering supplier network takes shape as Assystem and Amentum join
Type 31 Frigate rollout in Rosyth
Babcock engineering supplier network takes shape as Assystem and Amentum join
The two engineering specialists join AtkinsRéalis among 10 strategic suppliers selected to provide expertise across Babcock’s global portfolio.
ODU to reveal extended range of military connectors at DVD2026
Military comms
ODU to reveal extended range of military connectors at DVD2026
At next month's DVD2026 - taking place at the UTAC Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire - ODU Connectors will be presenting new additions to its Advanced Military Connector (AMC) range.
Defence Events Member News

19 Aug 2026

From a washing machine to an SAS rifle: All the MoD items reported lost, missing or stolen
Police scotland drone trial for safer motorbike riding
From a washing machine to an SAS rifle: All the MoD items reported lost, missing or stolen
According to newly released FOI data, more than 5,000 weapons, ammunition items and electronic devices were reported lost, stolen or missing by the MoD and police forces in the last five years.
Defence

18 Aug 2026

UK satellite funding targets connectivity ‘not-spots’ for farmers and remote railways
Young farmer works with a digital tablet in a wheat field, smart farm and quality control
UK satellite funding targets connectivity ‘not-spots’ for farmers and remote railways
British farmers and passengers travelling through remote parts of Scotland could gain better connectivity through a new £13 million package backing 16 UK satellite communications projects.
Space

18 Aug 2026

SatVu’s space-based thermal intelligence reveals status of Texan LNG terminal
Golden Pass LNG terminal in Texas
SatVu’s space-based thermal intelligence reveals status of Texan LNG terminal
By using HotSat-2's MWIR sensor, SatVu has captured thermal data over the Golden Pass LNG terminal in Texas, with AllSource Analysis attributing thermal activity to the individual units and equipment within.
Member News Space

14 Aug 2026

MDA Space opens CHORUS Control Centre
Chorus: generated image.
MDA Space opens CHORUS Control Centre
With the opening of its new control centre, MDA Space has moved closer to operational readiness ahead of the launch of its CHORUS satellite constellation later this year.
Member News Space

13 Aug 2026

Babcock engineering supplier network takes shape as Assystem and Amentum join
Type 31 Frigate rollout in Rosyth
Babcock engineering supplier network takes shape as Assystem and Amentum join
The two engineering specialists join AtkinsRéalis among 10 strategic suppliers selected to provide expertise across Babcock’s global portfolio.
PM’s texts with fake White House aide raises questions over ministerial security
Computer hacker with mobile phone smartphone stealing data
PM’s texts with fake White House aide raises questions over ministerial security
The Prime Minister ended the exchange after becoming suspicious, but the incident has put government communications security firmly in focus.
Security

19 Aug 2026

Second Front Systems appoints Cody Barrow as Head of EMEA
Second Front software
Second Front Systems appoints Cody Barrow as Head of EMEA
The former founding member of US Cyber Command, Cody Barrow, has joined Second Front Systems (2F) – bringing more than 20 years' experience in defence and cybersecurity – to head up the company's commercial strategy.