Aer Lingus just debuted this state-of-the-art aircraft

Aer Lingus receives two new Airbus A321XLRs

By Mark Reif Published January 9, 2025 10:00 AM

Airbus A321XLR — Airbus / Airbus

Aer Lingus, the national carrier of Ireland, just took delivery of two Airbus A321XLRs, the initial planes of six on order. That makes it only the second carrier, after Iberia Airlines, to operate the state-of-the-art design. The A321XLR is an evolution of the A320neo, in response to the need for increased range and paylods. In addition, it can fly on up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

The Airbus A321XLR: Range, efficiency and storage

Aer Lingus A321XLR — Aer Lingus

The A321XLR is a single-aisle design with a range of 4,700 nautical miles. That’s a 15% increase compared to the A321LR, helping Aer Lingus fly to new destinations and serve existing transatlantic routes. Currently, the airline flies 18 routes from the Dublin Airport to the U.S.

Recommended Videos

Onboard, passengers will experience 60% more space for overhead bags, the newest inflight technology, and wider seats. A two-class configuration features 168 Economy Class seats and 16 full-flat Business Class seats. The A321XLR also burns 20% less fuel per seat than prior-generation aircraft.

Lynne Embleton, Chief Executive, Aer Lingus, said: The arrival of our two new Airbus A321XLRs mark a significant milestone for Aer Lingus. The long-range capabilities of the XLR enable us to travel deeper into North America, offering previously unserved markets greater connectivity to Europe through our Dublin hub. Both new XLR aircraft will operate on our newly announced routes to Nashville and Indianapolis for summer 2025. Looking ahead, we’re on target to expand our XLR fleet from two to six aircraft in 2025, further strengthening our position as a market leader in North American connectivity.”

Benoît de Saint Exupéry, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer, added: “Aer Lingus becomes the latest operator of the world’s newest single-aisle aircraft: the A321XLR. It will truly revolutionise long-haul travel, allowing airlines to tap into new exciting city pairings as will be demonstrated by Aer Lingus. We stand alongside Aer Lingus and will together make its growing fleet of A321XLRs a resounding success operationally and with passengers.”

Mark Reif is a writer from Stowe, Vermont. During the winter, he works as a snowboard coach and rides more than 100 days. The…

Travel

Is your city on the list? The world’s most traffic-congested cities

Istanbul takes the top spot, with New York City following closely behind.

Traffic

INRIX, a leader in transportation analytics, has just released their 2024 Global Traffic Scorecard, which ranks congestion in nearly 950 cities across 37 countries. The findings paint a stark picture of the time lost to traffic delays, with some cities seeing record-breaking congestion levels.

The city of Istanbul, Turkey claimed the title of the world’s most traffic-congested city, with drivers enduring a staggering 105 hours of delay per year. That’s a 15% increase from the previous year, further cementing Istanbul’s status as a traffic nightmare. The average downtown speed in Istanbul is a mere 15 mph, highlighting just how slow it can be to navigate the streets. With a growing population and increasing car usage, it seems that traffic congestion is only getting worse in this metropolis.

Travel

The best places to visit in Florida for every type of traveler

From relaxing beach towns to vibrant cities

Key West, Florida

Florida’s sunny beaches and peaceful landscapes have made it a favorite vacation destination for decades, but there’s far more to the Sunshine State than meets the eye. Did you know people first reached Florida over 14,000 years ago? This long history, combined with its natural beauty and world-famous attractions, make Florida a fascinating mix of past and present.

If you’re planning a Florida vacation, then there’s a wide array of fun places to check out. Whether you’re looking for a calm beach vacation, a bustling city trip, or even a mix of both, these are the best places to visit in Florida.
1. Miami

Travel

Delta earned this award for on-time performance

Delta receives award for on-time flights

delta cirium award deltaaerolabs hero

Delta began the new year strong, receiving a Platinum Award for Operational Excellence from aviation analytics company, Cirium. The award recognizes on-time performance while navigating complex operations, and limiting disruptions to passengers. It’s the fourth year in a row the airline received the award.
Delta continues to set the mark for punctuality

In 2024, Delta led the way in on-time performance, with 83.46% of its 1,712,529 flights arriving as scheduled, according to Cirium. That outpaced both North American and Global airlines, which had scores of 76.37% and 83.04%, respectively. In addition, Delta led its nearest North American competitor by 2.53%. Cirium defines on-time flights as arriving within 15 minutes of scheduled arrival.