Airbus has officially begun assembling its first A321XLR aircraft at the Jean-Luc Lagardère Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Toulouse, France. The site, which previously produced the massive Airbus A380, is now being repurposed for the A321neo family, reflecting Airbus’ shift toward more fuel-efficient, single-aisle aircraft.
First A321XLR Assembly in Toulouse for Iberia
Airbus began assembling the A321XLR for Iberia in December 2024, according to a report by La Dépêche. This aircraft will eventually be equipped with a fully furnished cabin and engines. Iberia’s A321XLRs will use two CFM International LEAP-1A engines for efficient, long-haul operations.
Iberia’s second A321XLR, which will be delivered in March 2025, is being assembled at Airbus’ Hamburg, Germany site under the manufacturer serial number (MSN) 11686. Airbus delivered the airline’s first A321XLR in October 2024, showing its commitment to meeting the rising demand for this aircraft type.
Delivering Toulouse-Assembled A321neo Aircraft
The transition from A380 production to the A321neo family began showing results in December 2023, when Airbus delivered the first Toulouse-assembled A321neo to Pegasus Airlines. Registered as TC-RDK, the aircraft entered service on January 2, 2024. Since then, Airbus has delivered 33 A321neo aircraft from the Toulouse site to airlines worldwide, including Pegasus Airlines, HK Express, IndiGo, Korean Air, and United Airlines.
Airbus’ other assembly sites also played a key role in delivering A321neos globally. Between December 1, 2023, and January 31, 2025, the following delivery stats were recorded:
- Hamburg (Germany): 294 A321neos
- Mobile (Alabama, USA): 54 A321neos
- Tianjin (China): 77 A321neos
These deliveries underscore Airbus’ ability to maintain high production rates across multiple global facilities.
Conversion of the Ex-A380 Final Assembly Line
Airbus began converting the former A380 assembly site in January 2020. With the end of A380 production in December 2021, the company focused on modifying the Lagardère facility to accommodate a “digitally-enabled” assembly line for the A321neo family, including its A321LR and A321XLR variants. This move was part of Airbus’ broader effort to modernize its production system and meet growing demand for the A320neo family.
Michael Schoellhorn, the former COO of Airbus, highlighted that the decision to expand A321neo production was driven by high global demand. With over 10,000 orders for the A320neo family as of December 31, 2024, Airbus is scaling its production to optimize delivery times.
A320neo Family Orders (as of December 31, 2024):
- A319neo: 57 orders
- A320neo: 4,083 orders
- A321neo (including A321LR and A321XLR): 6,829 orders
This growing demand reflects airlines’ need for fuel-efficient aircraft that can serve both regional and long-haul routes.
Airbus’ decision to repurpose its former A380 production site to assemble A321neo aircraft, including the long-range A321XLR, marks a strategic shift in line with changing market dynamics. As airlines prioritize fuel efficiency and operational flexibility, Airbus is stepping up to meet demand through innovative production strategies. With multiple assembly sites across the world, Airbus is positioned to continue its dominance in the single-aisle aircraft market for years to come.