American Airlines Takes Delivery of First A321XLR But Supply Chain Issues Keep It Grounded
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A321XLR Photo Courtesy of Airbus
As reported by Bloomberg, American Airlines Group has officially taken delivery of its first Airbus A321XLR, a long-range narrowbody jet designed to enhance transcontinental and international service. The handover took place in Hamburg, Germany, where the aircraft will remain grounded due to an ongoing seat supply chain issue. American did not disclose the seat manufacturer responsible for the delay.
The A321XLR, which boasts the longest range of any single-aisle commercial aircraft and features 20 suites and 12 premium seats, is a cornerstone of American’s strategy to grow its long-haul fleet from approximately 125 aircraft today to 200 by 2029. The airline initially plans to deploy the jet on domestic long-haul routes later this year, eventually expanding to international service.
While aircraft built in Europe currently face 10% U.S. tariffs stemming from earlier trade disputes, American confirmed that the delay is unrelated to those levies. CEO Robert Isom previously stated that the company would not take on additional tariff costs.
American isn’t alone in facing setbacks. Delta Air Lines is also dealing with stranded Airbus jets in Europe, reportedly due to pending regulatory certification for their seats. To mitigate the impact, Delta has been removing engines from the parked jets and using them to support its active U.S. fleet.
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