Indianapolis, Nashville gain transatlantic service with A321XLR

Aer Lingus’ upcoming deployment of its new Airbus A321XLR aircraft to Indianapolis marks a significant milestone in transatlantic travel for secondary US cities, reports Skift. The XLR’s extended range (4,700 nautical miles) and cost-efficient operation allow routes like Dublin-Indianapolis, set to launch 3 May 2024, to become viable despite relatively low passenger volumes, much as the Boeing 757 did, or still does for Delta, especially.

This move restores the Indiana capital’s nonstop transatlantic service, which was lost when Delta ceased its Paris flights in 2020. The A321XLR's 184-seat configuration offers fewer seats than widebody planes but provides more economical options for airlines, especially on niche long-haul routes.

Aer Lingus plans to expand its XLR fleet from two to six by 2025, enabling further network growth into underserved North American markets. Nashville, another city gaining service, highlights the broader trend of single-aisle aircraft revolutionizing long-haul operations. Tennesseans also gain a new route to Reykjavik on an Icelandair Boeing 737 Max, demonstrating the increased range this generation of engines afford.

Not everyone’s convinced the A321XLR is an optimal middle-of-market plane, and the next move is Boeing’s, which scrapped a clean-sheet redesign before the 737 Max imbroglio.