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EASA Certifies GTF-powered Airbus A321XLR
By: Hanneke Weitering
Caption: First A321XLR airliner with Pratt & Whitney’s engines will enter service this year
Word Count: 361
EASA has certified the version of the Airbus A321XLR narrowbody airliner equipped with Pratt & Whitney’s PW1100G-JM geared turbofan (GTF) engine. Announcing the news on February 21, Pratt & Whitney said it had updated the PW1100G-JM engine’s type certificates with both the European air safety regulator and the FAA to add the A321XLR model.
EASA’s certification of the GTF-powered A321XLR comes seven months after it certified the initial version of the aircraft with Leap 1A engines, which are built by CFM International, a joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines. The FAA certified the GTF-powered A321XLR in December, two months after it approved the Leap-powered version. 
“The GTF is the most fuel-efficient engine for single-aisle aircraft, and today's certification from EASA is a key milestone for the program,” said Rick Deurloo, president of commercial engines at Pratt & Whitney. “The GTF-powered Airbus A321XLR will provide longer range and higher payload capability, enabling new route options while reducing operating costs for our customers.”  
A derivative of the popular A321neo single-aisle jetliner, the A321XLR (“Xtra Long Range”) can seat up to 244 passengers and has a maximum range of 4,700 nm—up from 4,000 nm in the A321LR. According to Airbus, the A321XLR burns 30% less fuel per seat than narrowbody airliners flying today. 
Airbus said 13 airline customers have selected the GTF engines to power a total of 217 A321XLR on order. The launch customer for that version of the airliner will be Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air. Spanish flag carrier Iberia was the launch customer for the Leap-powered version and accepted its first deliveries in October 2024.
“The A321XLR already displays its great versatility crossing the Atlantic in daily operations. With the certification and entry-into-service of the GTF-powered A321XLR, we will see more operators introduce this game-changing aircraft,” said Christian Scherer, CEO of Airbus Commercial Aircraft. “It is also good news for our customers’ passengers who will benefit from the convenience of new direct city-to-city connections with a heightened level of cabin comfort.”