Which airline received the first Airbus A321XLR in 2024?

Iberia received the first Airbus A321XLR in 2024.

The Spanish flag carrier took delivery of the aircraft from Airbus in October 2024, making it the launch operator for the long-range version of the A321neo family. Iberia subsequently introduced the aircraft on scheduled passenger services between Madrid and destinations including Boston.

The A321XLR extends the capabilities of the single-aisle A321 by adding a permanent rear centre fuel tank and other structural and systems changes. Airbus designed it to serve routes that are too long for many standard narrow-body aircraft but do not generate enough demand for a wide-body jet.

Iberia is sometimes confused with Aer Lingus, which was also an early A321XLR operator. Aer Lingus received its first aircraft later, while Iberia was the first airline to take delivery. The aircraft is part of the A320neo family, not the separate wide-body A330 or A350 families.