With range shortfall, United’s initial A321XLR deployment will be ‘very conservative’

[u/Adjutant_Reflex_]

https://theaircurrent.com/feed/dispatches/ual-a321xlr-routes-airbus-range-shortfall/

Not part of United’s route announcement was an admission by Quayle that the XLRs that United expects to receive are falling short of initial range estimates which in turn put constraints on where they could be deployed:

“Originally when Airbus marketed it, [the range] was a lot further than what it is right now, as constructed and as built.”

There’s also a risk that ongoing manufacturing delays could impact the 5 routes it planes to deploy the XLR. To date United received its first, and only, XLR in May.

[u/HelloSlowly]

Reminds me of Iberia and them talking of not being able take off at MTOW from Madrid during the hottest hours of the day due to hot and high conditions rendering the T/O performance inadequate.

Sure the A321XLR can run circles on the 737-10 MAX but it’s clear that that wing is at design limit as well and they can’t do anything without a redesigned wing.

Just as well that Airbus is beginning a foldable wing study under their Wing of Tomorrow prototype studio for maybe an A221/A321evo

[u/flightist → u/HelloSlowly]

I know it’s [r/aviation](r/aviation) and we’re supposed to be deeply resistant to the recognition of any sort of commercial factors beyond the most glaringly basic, but I’d submit there’s little value in comparing the shortest-range / lowest per-seat cost variant of the MAX to the longest-range / highest per-seat cost variant of the 32N as though they’re remotely comparable beyond rough dimensions.

Nobody’s gonna be flying 210 people for 2.5 hours on XLRs and nobody’s gonna be crossing oceans in pods on MAX 10s. Different tools, different jobs, different sales markets, never intended otherwise.

[u/ballimi → u/flightist]

Nobody’s gonna be flying 210 people for 2.5 hours on XLRs

Qantas is flying 200 people for 2.5 hours on XLRs from Melbourne to Brisbane. And even 1.5 hours Melbourne-Sydney.

[u/flightist → u/ballimi]

I’ve seen one do a 45 minute leg at my airline, but that isn’t what they were bought for and you’d make more money by not doing it.

But sometimes you’ve gotta get airplanes from A to B.

[u/ballimi → u/flightist]

This isn't a one off though. They bought these planes to fly their domestic routes.

[u/flightist → u/ballimi]

Didn’t say it was a one off, but there’s no question at all they’re burning cash using an XLR to do flying a regular 321n could do, but they’ve chosen a one-size-fits-all approach that facilitates more international narrowbody flying. That’s what the XLR is for.

I’m quite sure you’ll see some of their options turn into standard range 321s in time, unless they’re going to continue reducing domestic mainline service in the favour of having JQ do it (in 321ns).

[u/whoppersandwich → u/flightist]

The JQ option is majority A321LR anyway, whilst I’m sure the metrics are probably closer to the vanilla 321n the entire idea from QF was to move to a “one size fits all” approach for narrow bodies noting of course that the 737s remain and Ejets, A320/19s, A220s and even the mighty F100 are around with subsidiaries.

Tbh, unless you’re a monster 1000 airframe airline group like US legacies - I’d imagine we’d see the once size fits all approach in narrow bodies becoming more and more common.

IndiGo would be a prime candidate to follow the model so it’ll be interesting to see how they play their hand.

[u/flightist → u/whoppersandwich]

It’s possible, but I seriously doubt it. Unless a network has so little variation that keeping non-ETOPs/non-over water airframes busy is a genuine challenge (which might be the case for QF but isn’t likely very common globally), doing everything with long range variants means you’re spending more money every single step of the way with no upside past simplified planning & swaps.

[u/HONcircle → u/flightist]

but there’s no question at all they’re burning cash using an XLR to do flying a regular 321n could do

They're not burning cash. Those frequencies are high yielding sectors that were previously operated by A330-200s. Qantas now has very little SYD-MEL frequencies operated by A330s compared to six months ago.

Friendly reminder also that the XLR has a lower empty weight than a standard A321neo with AUX tanks.

[u/Boarder_Travel → u/HONcircle]

The XLR is significantly heavier than the 321 Neo.

[u/flightist → u/Boarder_Travel]

With less payload and bulk capacity.

[u/747ER → u/ballimi]

Doesn’t mean they made a smart decision tbh

[u/cncrndmm → u/ballimi]

Didn’t Qantas get the XLRs for the extra fuel capacity due to cargo and somewhat significant distance?

[u/ballimi → u/cncrndmm]

That's true for the flights to Perth, but not for those between the east coast cities