Visual image posted by the manufacturer:
Discount airlines will also fly long distances.
For the travelling public, the advent of a new type of aircraft may not matter for a while, but if airlines start offering it, it could gradually reshape part of air transport, and thus tourism as well.
The XLR's range increases to about 8,700 kilometers with the additional fuel tank. This distance already belongs to the category of long-haul flights, and can be completed with a flight time of about 11 hours. It is customary to refer to such a distance as an international or foreign route, but of course wherever the aircraft travels geographically, the emphasis is on the fact that it can cover such a distance without landing.
This was never the case with narrow-body aircraft. Companies that flew such long routes solved the problem with twin-engine aircraft that consumed large amounts of gas, and were much more expensive than what was expected to be spent in the future on this model to complete the flights.
For businesses, the fuel-efficient XLR can mean lower running costs, so a version suitable for transporting 200 people could be a good alternative to replace previous machines.
Icelandair, for example, has ordered 13 of them to replace its aging Boeing 757s, which have a shorter range than the XLR and also burn 30 percent less fuel than their predecessors. The company has already announced plans for new routes to California and Texas, as well as across Europe, that will be served by these aircraft.
For some passengers, the really promising thing might be for discount carriers to also start acquiring their own XLRs and start flying long-haul with them.
For example, Wizz Air has ordered 47 of these aircraft to fly new routes in the Middle East and Asia. You will be able to receive it in early 2025..
The company is currently negotiating with Indian authorities to fly there with the 244-seat version of the aircraft, with departures expected from Hungary, Austria and Italy.
If the aircraft type performs as expected with the airlines, over time – After the manufacturer delivers more and more machines to its customers, – Huge changes can be expected on those routes, which until now companies could only fly with more expensive aircraft. Especially for low-cost companies and their passengers, it can be a promising opportunity to offer tickets at prices in this model for long distances – even if the long distances and long flight times that can be flown by plane, passengers are likely to have different comfort needs than for a weekend in Europe.
