American Airlines Takes Delivery of First Airbus A321neo

American Airlines has taken delivery of its first Airbus A321neo (reg: N400AN).

The aircraft will spend the next couple of weeks at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) undergoing the extensive acceptance checks conducted whenever the airline adds a new aircraft type to its fleet.

The Tech Ops – PIT team will use the time to install ViaSat satellite Wi-Fi, conduct general ops checks and add interior and exterior placards as they customize the aircraft for American. After that, it will visit other American bases before entering service.

The A321neo is scheduled to begin flying customers on 2 April 2019 between Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) in Arizona and Orlando International Airport (MCO) in Florida.

Once the company takes more deliveries, additional routes will include PHX–Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) in Alaska over the summer, and PHX and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Hawaii later this year as the A321neo begins to replace retiring Boeing 757s.

The A321neo (new engine option) adds about 400 nautical miles in range to previous models thanks to improved fuel burn from the new engines.

American has ordered 100 of these jets with deliveries running over the next several years. They seat 196 customers and, in addition to the fast Wi-Fi, include power at every seat and free wireless entertainment to each customer’s own device including free live television.

Additionally, American is the launch customer for Airbus’ new XL overhead bins which significantly increase capacity. The A321neo is American’s first aircraft delivered with these bins and the company will begin retrofitting existing A321s with this same bin later this year.

American is taking the “Cabin Flex,” or “NX,” option of the A321neo, which has a new door configuration.

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