Aer Lingus has taken delivery of the first two of six A321XLR aircraft that it has on order.
Powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines, the aircraft took off from the Airbus production site in Hamburg on December 18, 2024, to Aer Lingus’ base at Dublin airport.
The aircraft will enable Aer Lingus to operate new routes beyond the US east coast and Canada, with destinations including Nashville and Indianapolis planned for 2025.
Lynne Embleton, chief executive of Aer Lingus described the arrival of the new aircraft as a “significant milestone” for the airline.
“The long-range capabilities of the XLR enable us to travel deeper into North America, offering previously unserved markets greater connectivity to Europe through our Dublin hub,” she added.
The airline is set to receive a further four XLR aircraft next year.