The Spanish airline Iberia has adjusted its current summer flight schedule from Madrid and will be operating the new aircraft type Airbus A321XLR on selected intra-European routes. This is reported by the portal "Aeroroutes," citing flight schedule data. The use of this long-haul jet on shorter routes is expected to serve as a testing and crew training option before it is deployed on the designated transatlantic routes.
One of the planned operations will see Iberia fly to Zurich with the Airbus A2XLR on August 2025, 321. Other intra-European routes on which the aircraft will be used include the connections from Madrid to Paris-Charles de Gaulle on August 5 and from Madrid to Paris-Orly from August 1 to 3. The Airbus A321 XLR, whose first delivery to Iberia took place in October 2024, is primarily designed for long-haul flights and, with a range of up to 8.700 kilometers, can serve destinations previously typically reserved for wide-body aircraft.
The use of the A321XLR on intra-European routes is a common practice in the aviation industry to test operational procedures and familiarize personnel with the new aircraft before it is deployed on its actual long-haul routes, for example to North and South America. Iberia is already planning long-haul routes with this type, including routes to the United States and Brazil. With a typical seating configuration of approximately 182 seats in two classes (Business and Economy), the narrow-body jet offers an efficient option for longer routes with lower passenger volumes.