Iberia (IB, Madrid Barajas) has scheduled the entry into service (EIS) of the first A321-200NY(XLR) for November 14, 2024, connecting Madrid Barajas to Boston, ch-aviation research has revealed.
Then, on January 15, 2025, Iberia will deploy the new extra-long-range narrowbody jet into scheduled service to Washington Dulles. The A321neo(XLR) will have a two-class configuration with 14 seats in business and 168 in economy.
Earlier this year, the IAG International Airlines Group dropped Aer Lingus (EI, Dublin International) as the global launch operator of the XLR, after a pilot pay dispute was not resolved in time, exchanging it instead for Iberia in this role. Due to this reason, there are currently two A321neo(XLR)s, msn 11348 and 11504, that could be the first delivered to Iberia.
Msn 11348 was supposed to be the first taken by Aer Lingus, and would have become EI-XLR upon delivery. However, it was recently spotted with the Irish company’s livery on its tail but Iberia’s logo on the engine. Meanwhile, msn 11504 has both its tail and engine with Iberia’s livery.
ch-aviation has asked the IAG for comment on which aircraft will be the first to be delivered to Iberia.
In 2019, IAG ordered fourteen A321neo(XLR)s, six of which were initially destined for Aer Lingus and eight for Iberia. The aircraft type still needs to be certified, with Airbus saying in May that the ongoing certification and flight-test campaign is in its final stages.
