Originally Posted by
SMT Member
Dave, we need to inject a few more facts it seems: You were wrong about the ability of the A321 to load all bags, and you're wrong here too.
B757-200 cabin dimensions: 353 x 3607 (cm) = 127,32 sqm
A321 cabin dimensions: 370 x 3440 (cm) = 127,28 sqm
B757-200 range, ISA, 113T MTOW, PW engines, 200 pax: 3915NM
A321NLR range, ISA, 97T MTOW, 200 pax: 4000NM
You're right on the payload, which effectively means the A321 can't carry the 5 tons of cargo a 757 could on the same 7-hour sector. The price for that, however, as a fuel burn roughly 20% higher. In other words, you're better off financially leaving the cargo behind, as the lost revenue is more than made up for by the reduced fuel burn.
So unless you're runway limited, the A321N LR is indeed the perfect 757 replacement, including the relatively small niche that's 3000NM+ missions. Thing is, it might just be profitable launching new 3000NM+ services on the A321, where it wouldn't make sense on the 757 - purely because of the vastly reduced operational costs.
The 757 stats appear to be for aircraft without winglets. Even with the quoted 4100 mile range with winglets the 757 struggles in the winter over the pond.