Airbus does not expect its long-awaited A321XLR narrowbody jet to enter service until 2024.
Airbus confirmed the delay while delivering its first-quarter 2022 results in Amsterdam
on Wednesday.
Discussions with regulators regarding the certification of a new type of fuel tank on
the plane are behind the delays.
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And in today's video, we are going to talk about “Airbus Faces New Problem!”
So without any further ado, Let's begin.
The A321XLR is Airbus’ newest jet, which was first revealed in 2019.
This will be the longest range narrow body plane in the world, as it’s essentially
an A321neo with an extra fuel tank.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency in January 2021 flagged the fuel tank’s
unique design, integral to the fuselage itself, as posing a particular risk in the event of
a fire, and hence presenting a “special condition” requiring a safety fix to protect
the passenger cabin.
Airbus rival Boeing Co. subsequently highlighted the issue, while the U.S. Federal Aviation
Administration proposed similar special conditions for the A321XLR last month.
“Initially planned for the end of 2023, the entry-into-service is now expected to
take place in early 2024 in order to meet certification requirements,” Airbus said.
Reuters reported earlier on Wednesday that the jet’s introduction would be delayed
to 2024.
One of the industry sources cautioned that new structural work could add six to nine
months to the timetable depending on the scope of the final rule.
A second source said this and other work could add up to a year.
“The certification of the A321XLR is an ongoing project,” an EASA spokesperson said.
“The complete set of conditions in relation to the installation of the rear-center tanks
is still under the definition, and, when ready, will be published for comments.”
The US aviation safety agency says the A321XLRs current design is insufficient to protect
passengers in the event of an external fire or give them enough time to evacuate if a
crash occurs.
The safety agencies are sensitive to the risk to passengers of death or injury in the event
of a fire or smoke entering the cabin after several high-profile incidents where this
has occurred in recent decades.
These A321XLR concerns aren't new.
They've been publicly aired for at least 12 months.
But this month, Airbus bowed to the inevitable and confirmed the entry into service delay.
Airbus is discussing certification requirements with EASA, said Stefan Schaffrath, a spokesman
for the Toulouse, France-based manufacturer.
“Safety is our number one priority,” he said.
“We let independent authorities take all the necessary time to make a decision and
would listen carefully to any requirements if they come.”
Certification of the A321XLR is ongoing, EASA spokeswoman Janet Northcote said in an email.
“The complete set of conditions in relation to the installation of the rear center tanks
is still under the definition” and will be published for comment when ready, she said.
Despite the plane’s appeal, fitting the rear-center tank has proved to be a challenge.
Airbus told EASA it was installing insulation under the passenger floor to keep the fuel
stored below from making their feet cold.
In its January 2021 paper, the regulator said the insulation posed issues in terms of fire
safety and burn-through risk, and that Airbus must show the XLR was as safe as the previous
A321s.
The Airbus A321XLR is an exciting plane for both airlines and consumers, in terms of the
new point-to-point routes it opens up.
Unfortunately, the jet is now facing some delays and range limitations.
Regulators are raising fire safety concerns.
Resolving this could increase the weight of the jet, and in turn, reduce fuel capacity
and range.
These changes could take some time and are likely to delay the first delivery of the
A321XLR into 2024.
But Airbus is hoping that the plane isn’t delayed much longer than that, especially
since aircraft manufacturers are facing increased scrutiny with certification following the
737 MAX issues we saw a few years back.
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