Airbus announced on February 21 2025, that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) had issued the type certificate for the Airbus A321XLR powered with Pratt & Whitney GTF engines.

This certification will allow the first customer aircraft with the engines to enter service later this year. Christian Scherer, CEO of commercial aircraft at Airbus, said: “The A321XLR already displays its great versatility crossing the Atlantic in daily operations. With the certification and entry-into-service of the GTF-powered A321XLR, we will see more operators introduce this game-changing aircraft. It is also good news for our customers’ passengers, who will benefit from the convenience of new direct city-to-city connections with a heightened level of cabin comfort.”

The A321XLR entered service in 2024 after EASA certification in July 2022 and Airbus already has more than 500 orders for the type.