Airbus has secured a £5.5bn deal with United Airlines for 50 A321XLR aircraft.
The massive deal was announced this morning and with United to take delivery of the first A321XLR in 2024.
The airline to begin international service with the aircraft in 2025 - flying from its key US hubs in Newark/New York and Washington DC to destinations in Europe.
A321XLR planes will deliver an unprecedented narrow-body airliner range of up to 4,700nm, with 30% lower fuel consumption per seat compared with previous-generation competitor jets.
Wings for the planes will be made at Broughton in North Wales, where it employs 6,000 staff. The company also employs thousands of workers at Filton, near Bristol.
“The new Airbus A321XLR aircraft is an ideal one-for-one replacement for the older, less-efficient aircraft currently operating between some of the most vital cities in our intercontinental network,” said Andrew Nocella, United’s Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer.
“In addition to strengthening our ability to fly more efficiently, the A321XLR opens potential new destinations to further develop our route network and provide customers with more options to travel the globe.”
Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer. said: “We are delighted to be re-United with our friends in Chicago and thank them for their trust. The selection of the A321XLR by the leadership of United Airlines is a ringing endorsement of the range, payload, and fuel efficiency that Airbus incorporated into this state-of-the-art aircraft.
"The exceptional versatility and performance of the A321XLR enable new operational efficiencies that flow to the airline’s bottom line.”
