Boeing Dismisses Threat of A321XLR to Widebody Sales

Boeing does not believe the arrival of the extra-long-range Airbus A321XLR will eat into widebody sales.

Answering questions after presenting Boeing’s commercial outlook document, released immediately before the show, Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA) head of marketing Darren Hulst said he felt there was little prospect of cannibalization of widebody sales by the A321XLR.

“Long-haul single-aisles are not going to fundamentally change long-haul networks,” he said.

“Our customers have told us that the further you fly, the more important a differentiated product is required, both inside the aeroplane and in cargo terms. This is a very difficult thing to do in a long-haul single-aisle.”

The A321XLR has enjoyed sales success in recent years, filling a gap for mid-haul, mid-market capacity formerly occupied by the Boeing 757. The Airbus has a range of 4,700 nm and the version powered by the CFM LEAP-1A engine received its AOC last week.

However, Hulst believed that the European aircraft would be essentially a niche aircraft, operating on the fringes of the long-haul market.

“We don’t see that as having a fundamental impact on our widebody sales, or Airbus’,” he said.

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