Japanese low-cost carrier Peach Aviation has become the first in the country to take delivery of the Airbus A321LR. The ANA subsidiary is looking to switch to a modernized fleet by 2025, supported by the A320neo and A321LR. The aircraft will enter service on 18th Jan on a popular domestic route.
The first Peach A321LR landed in Osaka’s Kansai International Airport on Sunday night. Photo: Peach Aviation
Ready to go!
Peach took delivery of its first of six A321LRs (Long Range) on Sunday, bringing the airline closer to its sustainability goals. The new aircraft boasts a 20% efficiency gain due to the newer LEAP-1A engines compared to the A320ceo. While the plane isn’t planning on making any long-haul trips soon, it will increase Peach’s potential market in the coming years.
For passengers, the A321LR brings a host of new benefits. Each seat offers 30-31″ of seat pitch, standard for low-cost carriers and even some full-service ones now. However, the airline notes that its layout allows for 1″ extra of width in every seat, a notable increase. The aircraft can carry 218 passengers in a 3-3 layout.
The cabin also features in-seat power through a USB outlet, a nice touch for the short flights the airlines currently operators. While a power outlet is ideal for passengers, USB plugs can ensure passengers aren’t left without power while streaming content using the inflight network. Peach doesn’t offer IFE, similar to other budget airlines.
More destinations
Peach’s A321LR, JA901P, will enter service in January 2022 and will be the first Japanese airline to operate the long-haul, narrowbody jet. With a range of 7,400km, the aircraft can fly into the entirety of Asia and even as far as Honolulu, Hawaii. This opens a range of future destinations for Peach as more aircraft enter service.
The A321LR is scheduled to start service on 18th Jan between Osaka and Okinawa. Osaka’s Kansai airport is the airline’s main hub since commencing operations in 2012. The coming months will see the A321LR begin flying between the pair above and Sapporo (New Chitose Airport).
While the A321LR is not cleared for ETOPS with Peach, the aircraft is already flying transatlantic for carriers in Europe. Given this, flights to major destinations like Honolulu from smaller Japanese cities could be possible. Expect to see more on such routes in the coming months and years as the remaining five A321LRs join the fleet.
