Aircraft encyclopedia · Airbus
Airbus A321: Specifications, Range and History
The Airbus A321 is the longest member of the A320 family of single-aisle airliners. At 44.51 m it carries 185 passengers in a typical two-class layout and up to 236 at the exit limit, over a range of 3,200 nm.
It first flew on 11 March 1993 and entered service with Lufthansa in January 1994. Lufthansa and Alitalia were the first customers, with orders for 20 and 40 aircraft. Airbus has delivered 1,784 A321ceo and 2,200 of the re-engined A321neo (July 2026).
93.5 t
Max takeoff weight
At a glance
A321 at a glance
| Class |
Single-aisle airliner, short to medium haul |
| Best for |
High-density routes up to about 3,200 nm |
| Passengers |
185 typical (16 first, 169 economy), exit limit 236 |
| Flight crew |
2 pilots |
| Engines |
2 x IAE V2500-A5 or 2 x CFM56-5B |
| Compare with |
Airbus A319, Airbus A318 |
Size
Dimensions
| Length |
44.51 m (146 ft 0 in) |
| Wingspan |
35.80 m (117 ft 5 in) |
| Height |
11.76 m (38 ft 7 in) |
| Fuselage width |
3.95 m |
| Cabin width |
3.70 m |
| Cargo volume |
51.70 m³, 10 LD3-45 containers |
Range and speed
Performance
| Range |
3,200 nm (5,900 km) |
| Cruise speed |
Mach 0.78, 448 kn (829 km/h) |
| Maximum operating speed |
Mach 0.82 |
Weights
Weights
| Maximum takeoff weight |
93.5 t (206,000 lb) |
| Maximum payload |
25.3 t (56,000 lb) |
| Operating empty weight |
48.5 t (107,000 lb) |
| Fuel capacity |
30,030 L |
Equipment
Equipment and main systems
What is installed on the A321ceo, which other versions exist and where the same equipment flies.
Engines
On the A321ceo
2 x IAE V2500-A5 or 2 x CFM56-5B, chosen at order
V2500 on the A321
V2530-A5 at 29,970 lbf and V2533-A5 at 31,600 lbf. The V2500-A5 family also powers the A319 (V2522-A5) and the A320 (V2527-A5); the D5 version powered the McDonnell Douglas MD-90.
CFM56-5B
Covers the whole A320 family, A318 to A321, from 22,000 to 33,000 lbf. More than 32,600 CFM56 engines of all series had been delivered by June 2018.
Builders of the V2500
IAE partners
Rolls-Royce (high-pressure compressor), Pratt & Whitney (combustor and high-pressure turbine), Japanese Aero Engine Corporation (low-pressure compressor), MTU Aero Engines (low-pressure turbine), Fiat Avio (gearbox)
Flight controls
On the A320 family
Digital fly-by-wire with side-sticks. The A320 was the first airliner with digital fly-by-wire flight controls, and the whole family shares the same cockpit and handling.
Commonality
Pilots move between the A318, A319, A320 and A321 on one type rating, which keeps training simple for mixed fleets
Fuselage and cabin
Cross-section
Fuselage 3.95 m wide, cabin 3.70 m wide, the same on all four family members
Cruise
Mach 0.78 (448 kn, 829 km/h), maximum operating Mach 0.82
Engines across the A320 family (ceo)
| A318 |
CFM56-5B or Pratt & Whitney PW6000 |
| A319 |
IAE V2500-A5 or CFM56-5B |
| A320 |
IAE V2500-A5 or CFM56-5A / 5B |
| A321 |
IAE V2500-A5 or CFM56-5B |
| A320neo family |
CFM LEAP-1A or Pratt & Whitney PW1000G |
Equipment and weights vary by serial number, options and later modifications. ICCJET checks the actual configuration of each aircraft.
The cabin
The typical two-class layout seats 185 passengers: 16 in first or business and 169 in economy. With the exit limit of 236, the A321 is the highest-capacity single-aisle Airbus of its generation.
History
History and production
| First flight |
11 March 1993 |
| Entered service |
January 1994, Lufthansa |
| First customers |
Lufthansa (20) and Alitalia (40) |
| A321ceo delivered |
1,784 (July 2026) |
| Successor |
A321neo: 2,200 delivered (July 2026) |
Rivals
A321 in the A320 family
A321
Seats, typical185
Range3,200 nm
Length44.51 m
Max takeoff weight93.5 t
Delivered (ceo)1,784
A319
Seats, typical124
Range3,750 nm
Length33.84 m
Max takeoff weight75.5 t
Delivered (ceo)1,484
A318
Seats, typical107
Range3,100 nm
Length31.44 m
Max takeoff weight68 t
Delivered80
All family members share the same cross-section, cockpit and type rating. The A321 gives the most seats per trip; the shorter A319 gives the most range.
Routes
Three nonstop routes in range
Istanbul to London
AirportsIST to LHR
Distance1,340 nm
Still-air timeabout 3.0 h
Almaty to Istanbul
AirportsALA to IST
Distance2,120 nm
Still-air timeabout 4.7 h
Almaty to Frankfurt
AirportsALA to FRA
Distance2,750 nm
Still-air timeabout 6.1 h
Calculated great-circle distances and still-air times at 448 kn. Real flights depend on winds, payload, routing and fuel reserves. Check any route in the ICCJET Aircraft Route Planner.
FAQ
Airbus A321: questions
How many seats does an Airbus A321 have?
185 in a typical two-class layout, up to 236 at the exit limit.
What is the range of the A321ceo?
3,200 nm (5,900 km).
How long is the A321?
44.51 m, the longest member of the A320 family.
When did the A321 enter service?
January 1994, with Lufthansa.
What is the difference between the A321ceo and the A321neo?
The A321neo uses new CFM LEAP-1A or Pratt & Whitney PW1000G engines. Airbus has delivered 2,200 A321neo and 1,784 A321ceo (July 2026).
Charter
Charter with ICCJET
Need the cabin before you buy one? ICCJET arranges charter of business jets, group airliners and cargo aircraft.
Istanbul
AirportsIST · SAW · ISL
Kazakhstan
AirportsALA · NQZ · CIT · GUW
International
DeparturesWorldwide on request
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Specifications are published reference figures. Individual aircraft vary by configuration and modifications. Page checked 16 October 2026.
