The Airbus A321 is a twin-engined, short-to-medium range, commercial passenger jet. It carries 185 to 236 passengers, depending on the configuration.
The A321 is one of the largest members of the Airbus A320 family and is a popular aircraft with airlines due to its high reliability and good range. It has received more than 6300 orders to date.
Design
The airbus a321 is the longest fuselage member of the acclaimed single-aisle A320 family, with a comfortable seat capacity of 180 to 220 passengers in a two-class layout and 244 in a higher-density configuration. Its wide cross section enables airlines to utilise Airbus’ modern comfort standard of seats at least 18 inches wide, and the aircraft’s cabin width also allows more overhead storage space.
The A321’s high fuel burn – 20% lower than the Boeing 757 – made it popular with both international and domestic carriers as they began to realise the importance of fuel efficiency in light of oil price volatility. A further draw was the aircraft’s cockpit commonality with other A320 family variants, allowing previous A320-family pilots to fly the aircraft without having to undergo additional training.
The A321’s advanced wing design and flight controls give it a balanced handling performance, ensuring that passengers enjoy maximum comfort and safety. The jetliner’s Sharklet(TM) wingtip devices also improve per-seat fuel efficiency by 20%, delivering up to 500nm of extra range for each aircraft.
Performance
The Airbus A321 is a highly efficient and versatile aircraft, which is why it has become one of the most popular narrow-body aircraft in the world. Its range and passenger capacity make it an ideal option for a wide range of short to medium-haul routes.
The A321 family is also available in an neo variant, which was first commercially launched in 2016 and features new engine technology that provides improved fuel efficiency. This has allowed airlines to reduce operating costs and increase their capacity while improving travel comfort in the cabin.
A321neo models have a slightly longer range than the A320ceo, while the LR variant offers a further extended range of 4,000 nautical miles. The A321XLR is expected to offer even greater range.
The A321 is a very common aircraft in the air and has many variants with different seating layouts. The standard layout for economy and premium economy classes is a single aisle, with six seats across. However, some airlines have fitted out A321s with premium cabins that feature lie-flat beds in both business and first class.
Cabin
The cabin on the airbus a321 is spacious and comfortable. It also has plenty of amenities to make flying as pleasant as possible, including in-seat power outlets and WiFi.
The A321 is a member of the Airbus A320 family of short to medium range, narrow-body, commercial passenger twin engine jet airliners. This aircraft can carry 185 to 236 passengers.
As the longest fuselage member of the A320 Family, the A321 offers more space in which to relax and enjoy the flight. Able to comfortably seat anywhere from 170 passengers in a standard two-class cabin to 220 travellers in more high-density layouts, the A321 continues to define the meaning of single-aisle comfort for operations around the world.
The A321neo features an optimised use of cabin space, increased exit limits and a new cabin door configuration that increases the aircraft’s maximum certified capacity to 244 seats. These upgrades allow the A321neo to offer more efficient fuel burn and longer range than the original A320, enabling airlines to tap into new long-haul markets not previously accessible with current single-aisle jetliners.
Maintenance
Airbus a321 is one of the most successful short to medium range, narrow-body commercial passenger twin-engine jet aircraft. This family of planes is a proven success for airlines worldwide, with built-in revenue opportunities and continuous innovations for higher efficiency and proven reliability.
The A321 family is high in parts commonality, making it easy for airlines to purchase replacements. It also features a digital fly-by-wire control system that provides cockpit commonality, which helps reduce training costs.
This design feature carries over to the A321neo and A321LR. The neo is used for freighter conversions and the LR flies regularly across the Atlantic with Air Transat, Aer Lingus and TAP Air Portugal Airlines.
To repair the A321neo, we had to replace an entire structural panel – a large piece of the fuselage that measures about 11.8 meters long by 2.2 meters wide. This required extensive preparation and the ability to manage the process efficiently.