- Airlines are increasingly using Airbus A321neo family planes for transatlantic flights.
- These single-aisle aircraft offer efficient long-haul economics for routes to Europe.
- JetBlue, La Compagnie, and Iberia offer lie-flat business class on these narrow-body planes.
More airlines are flying single-aisle Airbus A321neo family planes across the Atlantic.
The aircraft are a popular choice because of their favorable long-haul economics. They can efficiently fly routes that may not have the demand to fill a widebody and still be profitable for airlines.
Because the planes can cross oceans — with the longest-range variant, the A321XLR, flying up to 11 hours nonstop — many airlines have equipped them with lie-flat business class to optimize comfort (and revenue).
I’ve seen three examples of these transatlantic premium Airbus cabins: JetBlue Airways, French boutique airline La Compagnie, and Spanish flag carrier Iberia.
Iberia is nice, but it and La Compagnie lack a flyer-favorite perk, while JetBlue offers the most amenity-heavy business experience.