Trip Report: Onboard Iberia's Flagship Airbus A321XLR

MADRID — Good afternoon from Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD), the home of Spain’s flag carrier, Iberia (IB). We’ve just landed after a superb flight with Iberia from London Heathrow (LHR), and our exciting journey continues from Terminal 4S.

This evening, we’ll be flying transatlantic with IB's flagship Airbus A321XLR to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS). We have the pleasure of experiencing this aircraft, which entered service only four weeks prior, on May 9, 2025.

The airline is the launch operator of the world’s newest single-aisle aircraft, taking delivery of its first of the type on October 30, 2024. Three aircraft are currently in service, with an additional five expected to be delivered in the coming months.

The Airbus A321XLR

Meet the newest member of the A320 family and the latest evolution of the A321neo. With an unprecedented Xtra Long Range of up to 4700nm and a flight time of up to 11 hours, the A321XLR is an evolutionary step for Airbus. 

Having 15% more range than the A321LR, it allows distant cities to be connected, such as London to Vancouver and New York to Rome. Incorporating single-aisle economics with long-haul capabilities, the XLR features its new airspace cabin, which provides a unique and elevated passenger experience. 

The aircraft enables airlines to operate at significantly lower costs while increasing efficiency through reduced fuel burn and emissions, making it an attractive choice for airlines.

The Airbus A321XLR is designed to be similar to the A320neo family, with a few structural, aerodynamic, and software improvements. The key addition includes an optimized extra rear centre fuel tank that holds 12,900 litres of fuel. An optional additional centre tank gives the aircraft the capability to operate at its maximum range and flight time. 

Reinforcements of the main and nose landing gear have been carried out to increase the maximum take-off weight to 101 tonnes. The aircraft also features an improved wing trailing-edge flap configuration to preserve the take-off performance of today’s A321neo. 

To date, Airbus has received over 550 orders for the type, and more than 7,000 A321neo aircraft have been ordered by 90 customers worldwide.

Airport Experience

Connecting through T4S was quick, and we found ourselves airside in the main departure terminal within minutes. As our next flight wasn’t for another few hours, we headed to Iberia’s business class lounge, the Velázquez Premium Lounge.

The lounge is spacious and accommodating, offering stunning views of the terminal, ramp, and runway through large glass windows. 

As expected, the selection of food and drinks is of high quality, with an experimental area, the Wine Bar, for an elevated Spanish experience. The lounge features a TV and leisure zone, shower service, and a children’s area to enhance your travel experience. 

One hour before departure, Iberia announced our gate via SMS and email, with the departure screen confirming that boarding would commence shortly. After a short walk to our gate S31 and a quick documentation check, I joined the queue for boarding flight IB345 to Boston.

Madrid Airport’s Growing Portfolio

In 2024, MAD handled a record-breaking 66 million passengers through the airport, a 10% increase from the previous year. Madrid is Spain’s busiest airport and one of Europe’s busiest, thanks to its many domestic and international connections.

The airport plays a crucial role in driving the country's economy, including the growth of tourism and business. Madrid is a hub where airlines can bridge the gap between European markets and Latin America, ultimately increasing connectivity. 

Madrid Airport has four terminals, including T1, T2, T3, and its newest terminals, T4 and T4S, as well as a nearby satellite building. IB and its oneworld Alliance partners are based across T4, with Schengen and domestic flights operating from here. International flights to non-Schengen destinations primarily operate out of the satellite terminal, where IB’s wide-body aircraft are based.

Onboard

Welcome aboard IB’s latest A321XLR, registered EC-ONR. We're seated in 7F, the last row of the business class cabin, for the seven-hour flight across the Atlantic Ocean. At our seat, we found a pillow, a Como colchón (mattress), a bottle of water, headphones, and an amenity kit.

This contains all your in-flight essentials, including lip and hand moisturizer by Uvas Frescas, an eye mask, toothbrush and toothpaste, earplugs, and long socks. An unusual but nice addition was an Iberia-branded bookmark.

With all passengers on board, the cabin crew came to personally greet us at our seats and handed out the menu. Taking the time to explain the seat features and controls, the personal welcome at our seats was a pleasant start to our transatlantic journey ahead.

Iberia’s Flagship A321XLR 

Iberia’s A321XLR offers an Xtra Long Range of 7500km, thanks to its integrated central fuel tank, and is powered by advanced CFM-Leap 1A engines. The aircraft seats a total of 182 passengers across two classes and features the new Airspace cabin. This elevated cabin experience provides customers and crew with comfort throughout their journey. 

In business class, the cabin features 14 lie-flat Thompson Aero VantageSOLO seats in a 1-1 configuration. All seats have direct aisle access and a window view. Each seat is equipped with an 18.5-inch screen offering 4K resolution with high-quality in-flight entertainment. Seat features also include multiple storage compartments, a literature pocket, its lighting system, a universal power outlet, and a remote to control the IFE screen.

Customers also have a personal air vent and reading light overhead. The seat controls enable passengers to move the seat forward and backward, and raise and lower the footrest and seat back until they are in a lie-flat position. A "do not disturb" button is also featured for added privacy.

The economy cabin is arranged in a standard 3-3 layout, featuring 168 Recaro CL3810 seats. Every seat offers a 4-inch recline and a six-way adjustable headrest, with two additional pockets in front of the standard seat pocket for extra storage. A personal 12-inch 4K screen is integrated into the seat-back, offering the latest IFE that Iberia has to offer.

All IFE screens allow customers to connect their Bluetooth headsets, and each seat is equipped with USB-A and USB-C charging ports. Iberia also offers customers complimentary Wi-Fi onboard the XLR, allowing them to stay connected throughout the flight.

Upgraded features in the cabin include XL overhead compartments with 60% more storage space for hand luggage and six different mood-lighting modes. The galley is also improved, boasting new features such as a bun warmer, an air heater to keep food warm, and an espresso machine. 

Taxi, Takeoff

Pushback occurred promptly at our scheduled departure time of 17:30, and our engines started shortly thereafter. Excellent views of the airport and the surrounding scenery were provided during the short taxi to our departure runway. Lining up on 36L, the pilot flying set takeoff thrust, and the two Leap-1A engines came into life. 

We became airborne some 45 seconds later, simultaneously with a Ryanair (FR) Boeing 737 heading to PMI, a fantastic sight to see. Following a series of left and right turns, we set course directly west, with stunning views of the Spanish landscape below.

Cruise Phase

Climbing to our initial cruising altitude of FL330, the crew began preparations for the service, while I familiarized myself with IB’s in-flight entertainment screen and connectivity services. I started by testing out the Bluetooth connection with my Sony headphones.

After resolving a few technical difficulties, I finally managed to connect my headset to the IFE, and it remained stable throughout the flight.

It was straightforward to connect to the WiFi, with messaging apps working well, although the connection was patchy at times across the Atlantic. Free connectivity is included for Business Class customers and Iberia Plus members.

You can also sign up for the program in-flight. Paid packages are also available for internet browsing and streaming.

Having a quick look at one of the four bathrooms onboard the aircraft, it was unsurprising to see it spotless. Each is equipped with antibacterial surfaces, motion sensor taps, and pedal-operated bins, ensuring hygiene and comfort. 

IFE

IB’s in-flight entertainment offers a wide range of movies and TV shows, including the latest blockbuster films and select Disney+ Series. Audio albums offer a diverse selection of music, featuring playlists, concerts, podcasts, and records, all for your enjoyment.

The games section offers limited options to choose from; however, I found myself playing UNO and Angry Birds a few times during the flight. Iberia offers a dedicated kids section, featuring a variety of movies and shows, and parents can set up parental controls.

Finally, a dedicated section about the airline allows passengers to learn about the IB's history, its current fleet, sustainability initiatives, and more.

I often switched between watching movies, browsing, and checking the in-flight maps. Exploring the whole IFE selection in general, the UI was very smooth, and it passed the time well. A feature I liked was the option to view the remaining flight time in the top right corner, as well as easily accessing the map.

Iberia’s Gastronomy Experience

Approximately one hour into the flight, the dinner service began with an amuse-bouche, consisting of Spanish ham, salami, and cheese. At the crew's recommendation, this was paired with a glass of Labastida 1786 red wine.

Shortly afterwards, the main meal was served, with options including meat, fish, or vegetables. I opted for the roasted artichokes in a white garlic sauce as a starter, followed by grilled veal ribs with sautéed edamame, spinach, and Pimentón de la Vera mousseline. 

Both courses were rich in flavor and superbly executed. From the bakery, warm artisan bread was served with extra virgin olive oil and butter. For dessert, I enjoyed an eclair filled with coffee mousse and cream, paired with a glass of Villa Conchi Cava.

With the dinner service wrapped up, it was soon time to relax and experience the lie-flat seating. Adding the Como Colchón to the seat provided high levels of comfort, and we certainly felt relaxed for the remainder of the flight. 

The wide leather headrests provide an added level of privacy to passengers. However, since we were in the last row of business class, it did feel much more private, regardless.

The seat controls were responsive, and I was able to recline my seat fully in seconds. I oftentimes found myself accidentally pressing the do-not-disturb button, turning the seat’s backlit number red. 

Having mentioned this to the crew, should I turn this on unintentionally, we cheerfully agreed that they should continue to entertain and comfort us throughout. A feature I did appreciate was the comfortable armrest and storage compartment/mini table by the window, which allowed me to keep beverages within arm's reach.

Later on in the cruise, the crew surprised us with a Magnum’s ice cream, which was a treat while sitting back to watch a movie. In the galley, various snacks were available, including chips, popcorn, pretzels, and chocolate bars. As usual, being unable to decide, I took one of each and relished the remainder of the experience. 

Two hours before our arrival, a light meal was served, offering a choice between meat and vegetarian options. I opted for the Spanish potato omelette, accompanied by artichoke in white garlic sauce, roasted Padrón pepper, and cheese. 

Spanish breadsticks were also given out. For a refreshing beverage, I had a peppermint tea alongside the meal. Overall, the meal was perfectly sized and a satisfying end to the culinary journey.

Descent, Arrival

Our descent began about thirty minutes before landing in Boston, and we flew through the thick, murky clouds. The crew distributed specialty Spanish chocolate as a final treat before the cabin was secured for landing, another thoughtful touch from Iberia. 

As we approached Boston, we got our first glimpses of the city as we emerged from the clouds while downwind of the airfield.

A smooth touchdown followed, and we arrived at our gate an impressive 50 minutes ahead of schedule. Before disembarking the aircraft, the captain allowed us a brief visit to the flight deck, where I thanked the crew for a fantastic and smooth experience onboard Iberia’s flagship aircraft.

Having only been delivered a few weeks ago, the flight deck (as well as the rest of the cabin) was in pristine condition, and it was a pleasure to be onboard the airline’s latest product. The journey ended thereafter, feeling thoroughly impressed by the Iberia A321XLR business class experience.

Conclusions

Flying onboard the flag carrier of Spain, one would expect a fine Spanish experience. IB succeeded this evening and impressed at all times. Both the soft and hard products were excellent, from the attentive crew and fine dining, to the high-quality IFE and comfortable seat. 

High standards of comfort were maintained throughout the flight onboard the next-generation A321XLR, leaving a great impression. A special mention to the dedicated crew who excelled in their service and professionalism. 

Iberia is the first airline in the world to operate transoceanic routes with the A321XLR, and allows the airline to reach new destinations. In addition to increasing capacity, IB is strengthening its long-haul network with further deliveries of the new aircraft, which are expected in the coming months.