Skip to main content

Airbus · ICAO A21N

Airbus A321neo

The Airbus A321neo is the largest member of the A320neo family and carries the ICAO type designator A21N. The first example flew in February 2016, and the design later grew into the longer range A321LR and the A321XLR.

Manufacturer
Airbus
ICAO type code
A21N
Engine type
Jet

Live Airbus A321neo tracking

Live tracking for this aircraft type is not available on this page yet.

Airbus A321neo flight statistics

Flight statistics for this aircraft type are not available yet. Aircraft specifications below describe the model, not current flight activity.

About the Airbus A321neo

The first A321neo, fitted with CFM International LEAP-1A engines, made its maiden flight from Hamburg, Germany, on February 9, 2016. Airbus delivered the first A321neo to Virgin America on April 20, 2017. The Pratt & Whitney powered version was approved on December 15, 2016. Airbus pairs the new engines with Sharklet wingtips and claims about 20 percent lower fuel burn per seat.

In January 2018 Airbus rolled out the first A321neo ACF, short for Airbus Cabin Flex, in Hamburg. Its fuselage modifications allow more flexible cabin layouts for up to 240 passengers, and the ACF became the basis for the A321LR, which raised the maximum takeoff weight to 97 tonnes and added a third underfloor fuel tank for a range Airbus puts at 4,000 nautical miles.

The first A321XLR flew in June 2022, and the version with LEAP-1A engines received its EASA type certificate on July 19, 2024. Airbus delivered the first A321XLR to Iberia on October 30, 2024. The XLR with Pratt & Whitney GTF engines received its own EASA type certificate in February 2025.

Seating capacity and cabin layout

Airbus quotes a typical two-class capacity of 180 to 220 passengers for the A321neo and a maximum of 244 seats in a high density layout. Actual cabins depend on the airline and the mission, as these Airbus delivery announcements show:

  • KLM's first A321neo, delivered in August 2024, has 227 seats in two classes, an Airspace cabin with XL overhead bins and USB-C ports at every seat.
  • Iberia's first A321XLR seats 182 passengers in two classes, including lie-flat business class seats with direct aisle access.
  • JetBlue's A321LRs, delivered from April 2021, were the first single aisle Airbus aircraft with the Airspace interior.

A long range airframe with a premium cabin can therefore carry far fewer people than a short haul A321neo under the same type code.

How to recognize an Airbus A321neo

The A321neo shares the basic shape of the A320 family, and the main clue is length. Airbus states that the A321neo has the longest fuselage of any A320 family aircraft, and its published specifications give a length of 44.51 meters and a wingspan of 35.8 meters.

  • Sharklet wingtips are standard, but they are also available on earlier A320-family aircraft. They do not establish the exact type or engine generation.
  • Two engine types are offered, the CFM International LEAP-1A and the Pratt & Whitney GTF, so engine appearance differs between operators.

Separating an A321neo from the earlier A321 by sight is difficult, so the registration checked against the official type record remains the dependable way to confirm the type.

Variants and related aircraft

The A321neo, A321LR and A321XLR belong to the newer engine generation. The LR and XLR names describe range-oriented developments, not a longer fuselage than the standard A321neo. Their seating and weight figures must be read with the particular configuration: the A321LR has a 97-tonne maximum takeoff weight, while the XLR was developed with a higher limit.

The earlier A321ceo has its own tracking designator, A321. An aircraft name containing A321 therefore needs its generation checked before it is assigned to a type-specific map.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the A321neo, A321LR and A321XLR?

All three are A321neo airframes. The A321LR is built on the Cabin Flex version with a 97 tonne maximum takeoff weight and a third underfloor tank, while the A321XLR is a further development that EASA certified in July 2024 and that Airbus delivered to launch operator Iberia that October.

Which engines does the Airbus A321neo use?

Airlines choose between the CFM International LEAP-1A and the Pratt & Whitney GTF family. The first A321neo flew with LEAP-1A engines, and the GTF powered version was approved in December 2016.

When was the first A321neo delivered?

The first A321neo was delivered to Virgin America on April 20, 2017. The prototype had first flown on February 9, 2016. A delivery date records the handover to the customer and does not necessarily mark its first passenger flight.

Sources

Aircraft information reviewed on . Airline configurations can change.

Browse all aircraft types