Narrowbody airliners · Airbus
Airbus A321 A321
The Airbus A321 is the stretched member of the A320 family, seating about 185 to 220 passengers in a single-aisle cabin nearly 7 m longer than the A320. It is the largest ceo-generation Airbus narrowbody. Its size lets airlines move widebody-like crowds on busy domestic corridors.
A321s airborne over the US now
—
of all airborne aircraftplus — on the ground
Live data loads with JavaScript and refreshes every 15 seconds.
A321s in the air over the last 24 hours
A chart of how many A321s are airborne through the day loads with JavaScript.
Specifications
- ICAO code
- A321
- First flight
- 1993
- Typical cruise
- 450 kt / 518 mph
- Service ceiling
- 39,000 ft
- Range
- 3,200 nm / 3,682 mi
- Capacity
- 185-220 seats
- Length
- 44.5 m / 146 ft
- Wingspan
- 34.1 m / 112 ft
Engines: 2 x CFM56-5B or IAE V2500 turbofans. Family: A320 family (ceo). Figures are typical published values, rounded; real performance depends on variant, weight and conditions.
What it does in US skies
American Airlines is the largest A321 operator in the world, and the type also flies for Delta, United, JetBlue and Spirit. It works busy trunk routes, Hawaii and Caribbean flights, and premium transcontinental services.
Main US operators: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, JetBlue, Spirit Airlines.
How to recognize a A321
- Very long, slender fuselage relative to its wing and gear.
- Four main-cabin door pairs along each side, with two exits ahead of and behind the wing instead of overwing hatches.
- Larger, double-slotted flaps that are visible on approach.
- Same Airbus nose as the A320, so judge it by length.
How it looks on a flight tracker
Cruises around FL330 to FL390 at 430 to 530 kt. Look for AAL, DAL, UAL, JBU and NKS callsigns, often on the longest domestic legs.
History
Launched in 1989, the A321 entered service with Lufthansa in 1994. Its success set up the even more popular A321neo.
Where A321s are right now
Open this view on airplanes.live →Questions
What is the ICAO code for the Airbus A321?
The ICAO aircraft type designator for the Airbus A321 is A321. Flight trackers and flight plans use this four-character code.
How fast does the A321 fly?
The Airbus A321 typically cruises at about 450 knots true airspeed (about 518 mph). Ground speed on a tracker varies with the wind.
How high can the A321 fly?
Its service ceiling is about 39,000 ft.