Paris Air Show: MEA orders four A321XLRs
Lebanon's flag carrier, Middle East Airlines (MEA), has signed a firm order for four A321XLRs, making it the launch airline customer of Airbus latest evolution of the A321neo family.
The agreement takes Middle East Airlines’ cumulative single aisle orders with Airbus to 15 A321neo family aircraft, including 11 A321neos and 4 A321XLRs with deliveries starting in 2020.
MEA will use the A321XLR to strengthen its network in Africa and Asia.
The A321XLR is the next evolutionary step from the A321LR which responds to market needs for even more range and payload.
From 2023, it will deliver a range of up to 4,700nm – 15% more than the A321LR. This will enable operators to open new world-wide routes such as India to Europe or China to Australia, as well as further extending the Family’s non-stop reach on direct transatlantic flights between continental Europe and the Americas.