Airbus Is Studying a Longer Range A321 in Battle With Boeing
- European manufacturer could add fuel tanks to existing model
- Boeing teams are refining plans for a new 797 plane series
An Airbus A321 plane fuselage is lifted with a crane at the company's final assembly line facility in Mobile, Alabama.
Photographer: Luke Sharrett/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Airbus SE is studying options to extend the range of its A321 narrowbody plane ahead of a decision by Boeing Co. on whether to push ahead with a competing model, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The A321, which already has a long-range variant that can fly 4,000 nautical miles, could get additional fuel tanks that would allow it to fly even further, said the person, who asked not to be named as the discussions are at an early stage. Reuters reported earlier on the deliberations for a new, so-called "A321XLR" model.