A321XLR Performance
 

Will the 321XLR have better Takeoff and cruise performance than the 321neo? The 321neo seems to be very restrictive in temps greater then 30. And if you have a RWY that is only about 2,500m its almost better the be in an A320neo than an A321neo. Then there is the cruise performance issue, of only being able to climb to 30,000ft at high weights and being stuck there for several hours deviating around weather, while other aircraft at flying above it.

Well I think we will see the everyday performance capabilities, once it will fly regularly

Why would it? It's neither lighter, nor more powerful.

Indeed - to the best of my understanding it is the same airplane with some passenger replaced with extra fuel. The unchanged engines might have a further "thrust allowance" (but I don't see anything definitive on that ?).

It has a modified high lift system, different flap positions and different FBW software that could result in improved take off performance.

The main factor here is likely to be the changed wing flap settings. My guess is the t/o perf isn't going to be that much better, but apparently takeoff flaps now depend on the FMS and will vary per takeoff, so clearly they're trying quite hard to improve performance, likely because that's the main thing that you lose from the 757 if you're switching away from it.

Never had any issues of being stuck at FL300 with A321NEO at MTOW 🤷‍♂️

I‘ve never had any problems with the A321Neo (PW1100) in temperatures of up to about 37°C here in europe.


Of course, it‘s the same with the old ceo-aircraft. But 2500m should not be a problem for any Neo, even with some obstacles in the departure path.


Wich aircraft would be able to climb higher in this case? For sure not the A321ceo. Climbing up to flightlevel 370 or 390 with the A321neo close to max TOW was the norm, whilst the old 321ceo would have been stuck at 310 or maybe 330 all the way.

About cruise altitude after a MTOW take-off, reminds me the good old B747.;) I remember the B747-300, with which I flew the first 2 or 3 hours at FL280 after taking-off with 580 pax from ORY to LAX or from RUN to ORY..

Those were the days, bumping around at turboprop levels!

Even that depends. The A321 CEO with sharklets can climb higher than the one without, around 2 to 4k higher initial cruise.