The Airbus A321LR Is Fantastic But It Brings New Challenges - TAP Air Portugal CEO

TAP Air Portugal is joined by the likes of JetBlue, Air Transat, and Aer Lingus as regulars flying the Airbus A321LR across the Atlantic. The airline welcomed its first unit in April 2019 and now has 10 in its fleet with three additional expected between now and next year.

The model can be seen all across TAP’s network, on both short and long-haul routes, and the airline values the aircraft’s flexibility. Let’s see what exactly TAP’s CEO has to say about the A321LR, as well as it’s other neo Airbus type in today’s video…

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[outermarker]

"Labor Union"??
It just sounds like TAP has a wage cost structure problem because crews want/deserve longhaul pay even though the aircraft is technically a narrow body, just with hella range

[wdm]

Comparing the A321LR of TAP and SAS, I find it interesting that SAS has configured their aircraft as more premium-focused. TAP offers 2 configurations:
16F/ 48E+/ 107E
16F/182 E.
SAS configuration 16F/12PE/123E.

Which configuration do you think is best from an airline point of view?

[jfmezei]

ever since the drive to densify widebody cabins started with 787, the 321 has become coveted because thenshort haul family cabin now sports wider seats than 777 with 10 across, 787!and 350 with 9 across and some 330s also with 9 across. The original image of widebodies beingb more comfortable is being destroyed with addition of an extra seat per row than originally designed for.

[dannyfox]

Flew from New York to Lisbon in March this year the plane is cramped and not adequate supplied with food rand out of meals in business. Flew across to USA in A 330 neo a good experience l will not fly long haul in the A231. TAP pushing this product for purely profit without any consideration for the passenger experience

[TahBoeddha]

2:32 🤔 As far as I know, the A321LR is a narrow body and can fly medium/long range (which can have its own benefits), so whats the “problem”?
Or am I missing something? 😄

[StallionFX]

I’ve flown on an A321NEO with both Delta and PLAY. They were incredibly comfortable and spacious. I flew economy both flights and they were over 3 hours each. I was amazed at the comfort and space and this is coming from someone who’s 6”4. I heard great things about the XLR, but I know each experience is different based on the airline and their seating layout. Either way, I look forward to flying on an XLR and even more excited about narrowbody transatlantic flights on the rise.

[azlim]

Ex Ground Crew that worked on the A321LR. The extra fuel tank in the bulk hold limits the amount of cargo and baggage that the aircraft can carry. Aircraft is also tail heavy due to the fuel tank which cause trim issues.

[gobbledygook]

Ignore the haters of the A321LR. I was one too, but I recently flew JFK-LHR on jetBlue flight B67, and you know what, I stand corrected. It was positively the BEST transatlantic economy experience I’ve ever had, hands down. Mint is not as cheap as they advertise it to be though, and I managed to get round trip Upper Class fares on Virgin this summer for half the price. However, the cozy intimacy of the 114 seat economy cabin cannot be beaten, and if I were flying Economy, I would seek out jetBlue again. Especially with BA charging limbs for seat selection. Also, jetBlue is not lying about best in class legroom, amenity kits, hot towels, a comprehensive meal selection, and home-felt bathrooms on board. I felt welcomed as soon as I stepped aboard.

[stanignascimento]

I personally flew the SAS A321LR from Boston to Copenhagen and it was good, I have no complaints.

[LiamWalsheliamskitchen]

I have flown on the A321LR a total of 3 times - EWR-ORY, ORY-EWR, and FRA-BAH - all 3 times in J (EWR-ORY-EWR was La Compagnie and FRA-BAH was Gulf Air). Seats were almost identical in each case.

Agreed that it was very comfortable and I would do it again.

Haven't flown it in Y, but it seems to be more favourable than a 10-abreast 777 or 9-abreast 787. An 8-abreast A330 or 7-abreast 767 probably has an edge over the A321LR, and the A350 appears to be on-par with it.

[eamonahern]

I don't like the thought of being in economy on a narrow body for five hours or more.

[FlyBendy]

"It's neither a Narrowbody nor a Widebody"????
Of course, it's a Narrowbody!!

[dmav]

I flew on a brand-new LR with Air Transat in 2019, the best flight of my life, with comfy economy seats and the best sleep I've had on an airplane! I flew the return leg in Club Class, was a great first time in "business" class!

[brunoarod]

You forgot to include Azores Airlines (and its A321neo fleet) on the regular transatantic airlines listing on the video, along with TAP, JetBlue and other.

[pdtravels]

I flew on the A321LR with TAP, the least to say is that its a amazing aircraft! Its equipped with TV Screens, moonlighting and comfy seats.

[ronaldneves]

I've always dreamed of this. Flying on a narrow body across the Atlantic at Mach, 78. I'd rather walk across!!!

[loveFrAd]

I fly regularly on A321Neos and I like them a lot, flights of 6hrs too.

[flunitrazepam]

I've flown LIS-TMS on their A321LR and loved it. Great aircraft, super comfortable.

[dannypadilla]

I don’t understand peoples argument that you’d be “crammed” on a narrow body aircraft, when that actually applies to the wide bodies.
1) On a narrow body it’s only ever going to be up to six across, yet you’re getting up to 10 across on some wide bodies.
2) The narrow bodies crossing the Atlantic are not the same narrow bodies crossing the country, these narrow bodies have a low-density configuration which gives the average passenger more room.
What makes any aircraft uncomfortable to fly on is the seat, that’s where the real issue lies. You can have the lowest density 777/350 to ever exist, but if the seat is uncomfortable it’s gonna have the worst experience for anybody.

[rastapopoulos]

So basically the A321LR is so flexible that it's challenging to schedule the crews.