PARIS, July 21 (Reuters) – Airbus (AIR.PA) is facing a challenge with the range of its upcoming A321XLR passenger jet after reaching an agreement with European regulators on design safeguards needed for certification, according to industry sources. To address this setback, the planemaker is offering some customers potential deals for the larger A330neo to fill the performance gap, the sources said. “Airbus expects no significant impact on the XLR’s unique range advantage in the single-aisle segment,” said an Airbus spokesperson in response to a Reuters query. The A321XLR, launched in 2019 to expand on the successful A321neo jet, made its air show debut at Le Bourget last month. The design of the plane includes a rear central fuel tank that allows for more fuel space and extends the range by 15% compared to Airbus’s current single-aisle model, the A321LR. However, regulators raised concerns about the risk of fire and evacuation times, leading to talks about design changes for certification. Airbus has reached an agreement with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on the design of the new fuel tank, which includes adding a special protective liner and other reinforcements. These modifications have increased the weight of the plane by 700 to 800 kilos, affecting the maximum range. The changes are expected to reduce the practical range by 200 nm (370 km) from the estimated 4,000 nm. The range is crucial for airlines like JetBlue, which plans to use the A321XLR to open routes in Latin America or fly deeper into Europe. Airbus aims to certify the A321XLR by the end of the year and deliver the first aircraft in the second quarter of 2024. Reporting by Tim Hepher, Additional reporting by Rajesh Kumar Singh, Editing by Louise HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
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