The A321XLR aircraft will most likely not enter service until 2024, according to Airbus.
According to the report, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency is currently in discussions with Airbus about changes to a lower-fuselage design that could pose potential fire risks. According to the report, the European plane manufacturer may also need to replace the A321XLR’s underbelly fairings. This work could take anywhere from six to nine months to complete.
In May 2021, the European regulator received a submission from Boeing claiming that the Airbus A321XLR’s integrally located fuel tanks pose a fire hazard.
“Inherently, fuel tanks integrated into the airframe structure provide less redundancy than structurally separate fuel tanks.” “The placement of such an integral fuel tank immediately aft of the main landing gear presents the most comprehensive range of threats to be considered,” Boeing claimed.
While many commercial jets, including those manufactured by Boeing, have centrally located fuel tanks located between the wings, the Airbus A321XLR, designed to have the longest range of any single-aisle aircraft, has two additional sets of tanks in its cargo hold.
The announcement comes just a few days after Airbus delivered the new A321XLR aircraft from the paint shop.
The Airbus A321XLR is a variant of the A321LR with a longer range. According to Airbus, the new aircraft will have a range of 4,700 nautical miles (over 8,700 kilometres), compared to the A321LR’s range of 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 kilometres). The aircraft is designed to carry a maximum of 244 passengers.
