The new Airbus A321XLR promises a lot. But there remains the question of how passengers
will respond to longer flights on narrowbody aircraft. Flight crew as well might suffer,
with less space and a lack of dedicated rest areas. So with flights potentially
lasting as long as 10 hours, where will crew rest on these long range narrowbodies?
The A321XLR is likely to be one of the biggest game-changers in long-haul flying,
and possibly not for the benefit of passengers, or even crew.
The jet is currently expected to enter service by 2023, with production already underway. So far,
over 450 A321XLR planes have been ordered by 22 airlines and two leasing companies.
The major difference with the A321XLR is its range of 8,700 kilometers. This will not only offer easy
transatlantic flights but also connect South Asia with Europe, the Middle East to South Africa,
or the southern US to Argentina and Chile. With flight times as long as 9 to 10 hours,
this is moving well into the domain dominated by widebody aircraft.
However the aircraft is configured, the simple fact is there is less space than
on a widebody aircraft. Crews will find a smaller galley while common areas will
offer less space for both work and rest. Critically, there will be no designated
space for crew rest as you might find installed in a widebody. However, to compensate for this,
it’s likely (but not guaranteed) that airlines will leave some seats free on
longer flights to allow for crew rest. But a row of seats at the back of the
economy section is a far cry from the separate crew rest areas seen on many long-haul aircraft.
Both the FAA and EASA have regulations for crew rests. The fact that pilots on
many widebodies have a separate room with a bed to rest is not just the airlines’ generosity;
it is actually mandated by civil aviation regulations for the longest flights.
Unfortunately for the A321XLR crew, airlines can most likely avoid this
requirement with the flight lengths expected. One small advantage (from the crew’s point of
view) will be fewer crew members to share rest space with. The A321XLR could operate with five
or six crew, whereas a widebody 787 has a minimum of eight and closer to 21 on the A380.
There are also plans to offer a new business class. We have already seen business class
seating being introduced on narrowbody aircraft, and another new version is being designed by
STELIA Aerospace. While this is obviously better than standard seating, it is a long
way from the spacious suites and privacy being introduced on many widebody aircraft these days.
Unfortunately, it’s doubtful that any airline would block such business seating for crew use-
although it would be amazing if it did.
The A321XLR is not the only narrowbody entering the long-haul market. The Boeing 737 MAX and
Airbus A220 also offer long-range possibilities and have the same passenger and crew shortcoming.
And as the concept of more efficient narrowbodies operating longer distances takes off,
we will likely see more developments. Perhaps some of these will cater better for crew
and passenger comforts. And if flights get even longer,
then regulations may mean more space has to be provided.
But at least with the first aircraft in this market, it could be an uncomfortable beginning.
What do you think is the best solution for crew rest on a long-haul narrowbody flight?
Let us know in the comments.