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By Bjorn Fehrm

August 1, 2024, © Leeham News: We are comparing the Airbus a321XLR to the Boeing 757 to understand to what extent it can replace the 757 on the longer routes it operates for major airlines like United, American, and Delta.

We have examined the aircraft's development and operational history, their Apples-to-Apples capacity and range, and their operational costs for a typical domestic configuration. Now, we equip the A321XLR with a long-range, lie-flat cabin and look at what long-range routes it can fly in this configuration.

Summary:

• The A321LR/XLR can fly up to 10-hour routes in a long-range configuration, flying from mid-USA to mid-Europe.
• With its passenger capacity, range, and operational economics, it covers most of what Boeing set out to cover in its MOM and later NMA studies.