AB 321 Dimensions & key data

Cabin layout & comfort

The largest member of the A320 Family, the A321 offers the best seat-mile costs of any single-aisle aircraft, matching wide body efficiency.

Range 3 200 nm with Sharklets

Typical seating 185 (2-class)

Max payload 46.74 lb x 1 000

Wing span 111 ft 11 in

Overall length 146 ft 0 in

Height 38 ft 7 in

Dimensions Overall length 146 ft 0 in

Cabin length 113 ft 0 in

Fuselage width 13 ft 0 in

Max cabin width 12 ft 1 in

Wing span (geometric) 111 ft 11 in

Height 38 ft 7 in

Track 24 ft 11 in

Wheelbase 55 ft 48 in

Stretched fuselage

The best-selling A320 Family’s largest member, the A321, offers the best seat-mile costs of any single-aisle aircraft – with passenger capacities comparable to that of a wide body jetliner. This stretched-fuselage aircraft has an overall length of 44.51 meters, providing ample room to comfortably accommodate 185 travellers in a two-class configuration – or up to 220 in a high-density layout.

Capacity Pax Typical seating 185 (2-class)

Max 220

Freight LD3 capacity under floor 10 LD3-45W

Max pallet number under floor 10

Bulk hold volume 1 828 ft³

Total volume 1 300 / 1 508 ft³ (LD3 / LD3+bulk)

Performance Range 3 200 nm with Sharklets

Mmo M0.82

Max ramp weight 197.1 (207.0) lb x 1000

Max take-off weight 196.2 (206.1) lb x 1000

Max landing weight 166.4 (171.5) lb x 1000

Max zero fuel weight 157.6 (162.7) lb x 1000

Max fuel capacity 6 350 (7 935) USG

EnginesV2500-A5 x2

CFM56-5B x2

Thrust range 27 000 (33 000) lb slst

For more on technical specifications

Information required operating and supporting Airbus aircraft and airport planning, can be downloaded in Adobe PDF format, from the Aircraft Characteristics page. Further specialised documents are in the on-line Technical Data library.

A321 September 2012 Total orders 1220

Total deliveries 745

In operation 741

Demand spurs need for over 28,000 aircraft in the next 20 years.

State-of-the-art capabilities

The A321 is the A320 Family’s largest member .The benchmark A320 Family’s largest member – the A321 – offers airline customers the best seat-mile costs of any single-aisle aircraft and seating capacities comparable to that of a wide body jetliner. This aircraft has a stretched fuselage with an overall length of 44.51 meters, along with an extended operating range of up to 3,000 nautical miles while carrying a maximum passenger payload. Like each member in Airbus’ best-selling A320 Family of jetliners, the A321 offers the lowest fuel burn, emissions and noise footprint in its class.

The A321 typically accommodates 185 passengers in a two-class configuration (16 in first class and 169 in economy) – while offering unbeatable economics in high-density seating (with up to 220 passengers)

for charter and low-cost operators. The twin-engine A321 can be powered by either of two engine options: the CFM International CFM56 or International Aero Engines’ V2500.

New engine option

The industry-leading efficiency of Airbus’ best-selling A320 Family – of which the A321 is a member – will be further enhanced in 2015 with the service introduction of its new engine option jetliner versions.

Incorporating Airbus’ “Sharklet” wing tip devices and two new engine choices, the A320neo Family offers maximum benefit with minimal changes from baseline A319s, A320s and A321s – delivering fuel savings of up to 15 per cent, along with additional range of up to 500 nautical miles/900 km. or 2 tonnes of extra payload. For more information on Airbus’ new engine option offered for the A320 Family, visit the dedicated “Spotlight on…” page.

A family approach

The A321 benefits from operational commonality with its fellow A320 Family members, providing carriers with tremendous flexibility in matching aircraft to specific route requirements. All A320 Family aircraft share a single type rating – allowing pilots to fly any member of the Family after attending only one training course and enabling the same team of mechanics to maintain an aircraft.

With only minimal additional training, pilots also can transition quickly from these single-aisle jetliners to Airbus’ larger long-range aircraft quickly thanks to the unique family concept and their exceptional degree of operational commonality.

Longest cabin, widest appeal

While passengers benefit from the A321’s state-of-the-art cabin design, airlines profit from the unique operational flexibility of Airbus’ single-aisle aircraft – with the option to provide wider seats and enhanced comfort; a markedly wider aisle for faster boarding and easier cabin movement; and even a hybrid layout. Overall passenger comfort is further enhanced by the A321’s optional in-flight entertainment systems.

The A320 Family’s wide fuselage also offers unmatched cargo capability for operators. Its four members are the only single-aisle aircraft offering containerised cargo, with the A321 capable of carrying up to 10 standard LD3-46W containers in the lower deck holds – enabling interlining without special ground handling equipment.

Orders & deliveries

A321 September 2012 Total orders 1220

Total deliveries 745

In operation 741

Airbus A321 Specifications

A321-100/200

Dimensions

Length (m) 44.5

Wingspan (m) 34.1

Height (m) 11.8

Wing area (m2) 122.4

Weight

Maximum take-off weight (kg) 83 000 - 93 500

Maximum landing weight (kg) 73 500 - 77 800

Operating empty weight (kg) 48 100

Maximum zero fuel weight (kg) 71 500

Maximum payload (kg) 23 400

Standard fuel capacity (liters) 23 700 - 29 680

Performance

Range with max payload (km) 5 000 - 5 500

Cruise speed (km/h) 840

Maximum speed (km/h)890

Maximum operating altitude (m) 11 900

Take-off field length (m)2 180

Landing field length (m) 1 580

Engines CFMI CFM56-5A/5B,

2 x 30000-33000 lb

IAE V2500-A5,

2 x 30000-33000 lb

Fuel efficiency (g/pass*km) 18.2

Fuel flow rate (kg/h) 3 200

Cabin Data

Passengers (1-class) 220

Passengers (2-class) 185

Cabin width (m)3.7

Typical Cabin Configuration of Airbus A321

Add your review or comments about Airbus A321:

eHow» Vacations & Travel Planning» Air Travel» Booking Flights» Pros & Cons of Airbus Planes

Pros & Cons of Airbus Planes

By Roger Hamburg, eHow Contributor

The Airbus A320 is an extremely popular narrow-body airliner.

Airbus SAS is a European aircraft manufacturer based in France that produces small and large commercial airliners. Founded in the 1970s, Airbus has grown to become the largest commercial aircraft manufacturer in the world with its large and popular family of aircraft. For operators, there are pros and cons to flying Airbus aircraft, but the pros generally outweigh the cons.

Airbus offers a full range of commercial airliners, from the small 100-seat Airbus A318 to the colossal Airbus A380 (currently the world's largest production passenger aircraft, capable of carrying 800 people). As such, Airbus products can satisfy the needs of almost any airline. Airbus' experience building aircraft has produced good, reliable and cost-efficient airplanes that have been extremely popular with its customers. Its use of lightweight composite materials, fly-by-wire flight controls and advanced cockpit technologies have made it one of the leaders in commercial airline manufacturing.

Fleet Commonality

Operators benefit greatly from buying more than one type of Airbus. This is due to Airbus' design philosophy that focuses heavily on standardized parts, cockpit layouts and common procedures across the entire aircraft family. This commonality results in lower maintenance and inventory costs, as well as more efficient (and therefore less expensive) training programs. Airbuses also offer numerous benefits to pilots. Crews qualified to fly one type of Airbus can easily transition to another type using Airbus' differential training instead of having to take a full course.

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Acquisition and Cost

Airbus parts are manufactured by suppliers around Europe, and then assembled in France and Germany before delivery. Airbus has also started performing final assembly of its A320 family in China, which lowers overall cost. Airbus receives considerable subsidies from the European Union, which lowers final cost for the buyer. However, the World Trade Organization has ruled these subsidies unfair. For buyers, the lower cost of acquisition is a pro but Airbus' main competition, Boeing, has suffered because of it. Airbus aircraft can be acquired for a slightly lower cost than its competitors' aircraft, while providing a high value.

Design Philosophy

Some of Airbus' design policies have been controversial among pilots and operators. Airbus aircraft are highly computerized and automated, which takes some of the authority away from pilots and puts the computers in control. Airbus planes can be programmed to fly themselves almost independent of pilot input. This has resulted in a degradation of skill for pilots who over-rely on automation, giving them a false sense of security due to the Airbus' protection envelopes that may not always work as intended. The crash of Air France 447 has highlighted some of these problems, including the use of faulty instrument probes. Another trend sometimes highlighted by Airbus' opponents is an issue where under certain circumstances, the tail may snap off resulting in a crash. Overall, however, the Airbus has had an outstanding safety record.