Airbus A321 review: characteristics, cabin layout, history

The Airbus A321 model is the largest of the entire line of narrow-fuselage aircraft manufactured by Airbus S.A.S. Also in the family of narrow-body models include the A318, 319 and 320. The narrow fuselage is only one passage in the aircraft cabin between the seats, located directly in the middle. Airbus was developed in 1993.

Airbus 321 versions and their differences

There are two modifications of this aircraft: A321-100 and A321-200. What is the difference between them? The first model was created in 1993. In the same year, the Airbus took off for the first time and passed the appropriate certification, after which it was released into mass production. А321-100 is produced to this day.

A321-200 has, unlike its predecessor, an increased flight range and take-off weight. Its development took two years: from 1994 to 1996. It was originally designed as a competing airliner compared to Boeing. Thanks to its reliable technical data and characteristics, this aircraft is still produced today. In 2015, the A321-200 was improved again: it was equipped with updated, more powerful engines.

Passenger compartment layout

Depending on the degree of comfort, the aircraft's capacity is 220 people when fully filled and up to 170 in two economy and business class cabins. This is done by increasing the length of the fuselage. The manufacturing company gives the future operator the right to change at his own discretion the layout of the seats and the distance between the seats, differing from the proposed scheme.

Economy class

As a rule, the lion's share of seats in an airliner is reserved for economy class due to its popularity. However, this also has its own nuances. For example, rows with limited reclining of seats and superior seats. These seats may vary from airline to airline, but the worst ones will always be those in the tail, regardless of the cabin layout. It is there that the toilet and the luggage compartment are located, the backs of the seats do not recline from behind the wall and, in addition, long queues often accumulate near the places where you need to live.

Business Class

Business class tickets are much more expensive than economy class tickets and such seats do have advantages, but not all of them. The seats in the first and seventh row numbering on the standard plan will be a little worse because they are close to the toilet, kitchen and economy class, which is usually packed to capacity.

The best places

If we look more generally at the layouts of the Airbus A321 cabins of various airlines, we can conclude that they are not very different from each other. For example, in business class, the best seats are from rows 2 to 6, because they are located almost in the middle.

In Economy Class, seats in the 8th row are ideal for travel. Why? Due to the proximity to the emergency exit and the empty space around it. This means that you can safely stretch your legs without fear of inadvertently knocking on the back of the seats of neighboring passengers. Plus, the distribution of drinks and food begins precisely from the beginning of the plane at the end and passengers of the 8th row receive their lunch very first in economy class.

Row 19, like Row 8, is located next to the emergency exit, so there is plenty of legroom here too. However, many passengers dislike these places due to the close proximity to the toilet.

The 20th row is in second place in terms of comfort: a lot of legroom, location near the window, you can easily get up and return to your chair without disturbing your neighbors. These places are best for traveling with a child.

Aircraft characteristics

The Airbus A321 aircraft is partly composed of composite materials, due to which the strength of the hull has increased significantly in worse weather conditions and during overload. Avionic complexes EFIS, made in France, warn in time about malfunctions in engines and on-board systems.

Design features

Additional electronic equipment allows pilots to maintain the necessary navigation, which significantly reduces the likelihood of the aircraft deviating from the set course, especially in difficult conditions.

Main technical characteristics of Airbus 321:

Flight data:

History of creation

It was decided to create the Airbus A-321 aircraft as an improved modification of the previous model A-320. The A-321-200 modification has, in addition to improved maximum flight range and takeoff weight, an increased volume of an additional fuel tank installed in the tail, which means that the airliner will be able to do without refueling longer. It also has an improved braking system that makes it safer to travel.

Airbus pioneered the use of so-called "sharklets", which are wingtips of an aircraft used to save money in the construction of a liner. Nowadays, many older airbus models, built relatively recently, are also equipped with sharklets.

Where is it produced

Airbus is headquartered in the European Union. All old aircraft models were produced in France, in the southern city of Toulouse. But it was decided to build the A321 at a new plant in Hamburg (Germany), equipped with all the necessary modern equipment. Production exists to this day, producing a line of narrow-body airliners.

The cost of different models

Today the price of airbuses is constantly increasing due to the increasing exchange rate of world currencies. Now the airbus 321-200 model can be purchased for 116 million dollars, and the latest modification of the А321neo for 127 million dollars. This is the nominal average value.

Compared to previous years, aircraft prices have increased markedly. Also, the older the model of the airliner, the cheaper it is. For example, the A318 aircraft, which can accommodate up to 132 passengers, currently costs $ 75.9 million.

News, modernization, prospects

Modern production and progress in mechanical engineering does not stand still. Airbus has developed a new and improved Airbus model, giving it the name A321neo. Neo stands for "New Engine Option", which means "new engine option".

The main difference between the modified A321neo family is the new engines that reduce fuel consumption by 15%, the amount of emissions into the atmosphere by 10% and the operating costs by 8%. This is a difference compared to the previous A321 models created in the 90s of the 20th century.

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