Airbus stated Wednesday that it has handed over its first extra-long-range narrow-body plane, the A321XLR, marking one other step in an period of smaller and extra fuel-efficient jets flying longer distances, and additional increasing a supply hole between Airbus and rival Boeing.

The primary plane was delivered to Spain’s Iberia, which plans to debut it between Madrid and Boston subsequent month. American Airlines and United Airlines have additionally ordered the 321XLRs.

Airbus stated the XLR can fly as much as 11 hours nonstop, or 4,700 nautical miles, about 15% farther than the A321LR, a long-range model of the 321 plane, which is used for trans-Atlantic missions like JetBlue‘s service between New York and Amsterdam.

The airplane maker has been engaged on getting the plane licensed for 5 years. It burns about 30% much less gas than older plane, the producer stated.

The European firm has greater than 500 of the A321XLRs on order. It is a tiny a part of its backlog that stood at almost 8,600 airplanes as of the top of June, however it’s debuting a brand new airplane as its rival Boeing is struggling.

Within the wake of two deadly crashes of its 737 Max, Boeing put plans on the again burner for an all-new plane that will sit between 737s and wide-body jetliners, and probably change ageing 757s, that are at present between the 2.

The corporate is now planning to slim down, shed jobs and probably do away with companies it would not deem core to save lots of money and enhance high quality.

“Boeing’s an airplane firm, and on the right time sooner or later, we have to develop a brand new airplane however we’ve got loads of work to do earlier than then,” new CEO Kelly Ortberg stated on an earnings name final week.