U.S.-based JetBlue Airways has taken delivery of the first of 13 A321LR aircraft equipped with Airbus' new Airspace cabin. These new A321LRs support JetBlue's plan to launch highly anticipated transatlantic flights, beginning with direct flights to London later this year. In addition to these 13 new A321LRs, the airline has ordered an additional 57 Airbus aircraft consisting of other A321neo variants that will also be equipped with Airspace cabins.

JetBlue is the global launch partner for the new "Airspace by Airbus" cabin, which integrates long-range style into the A321 for the first time. Airspace brings a number of enhancements, many of which are tailored to JetBlue. These include: backlit ceiling panels throughout the cabin that glow with JetBlue's signature pattern, customizable LED mood lighting that changes at different stages of the flight to help alleviate jet lag, larger overhead bins in a narrowbody aircraft, additional shoulder room with new ergonomic side panels, a redesigned entryway at the forward boarding door, and upgraded in-flight restrooms with antimicrobial coating.

JetBlue Airways Corp. CEO Robin Hayes said, "At JetBlue, we are very excited to introduce the Airbus A321 Long Range single-aisle aircraft with the Airbus cabin interior for our new transatlantic services. These aircraft will allow us to provide our customers with attentive, boutique-style service while providing ample personal space, larger overhead bins, custom lighting and a design that gives the cabin an open-plan feel."

"We are very pleased that JetBlue is setting another trend by introducing Airbus' new Airspace cabin on its long-haul service," said Christian Scherer, Airbus chief commercial officer.

In addition to these Airspace elements, the A320 Family's wide cabin cross-section enables JetBlue to offer its passengers true long-haul comfort in all classes: 24 full-size adaptive mattress seats in the airline's Mint Premium Class Private Suites, while 114 Economy passengers will appreciate the widest 18.4-inch seats with a contoured seatback for added knee room. Most of these economy seats will offer a full 32 inches of seat pitch, while four rows are optimized for "Even More Space" seating - offering about five extra inches for the most legroom in a transatlantic economy class seat.

JetBlue passengers in these A321LRs will also be able to stay connected throughout the flight with the airline's unlimited, free high-speed Wi-Fi. In addition, they will have access to a select choice of live TV channels focused on news and sports, as well as an extensive library of in-seat entertainment for a "multi-screen" experience onboard. The seats will also feature an easily accessible power supply with AC and USB-C ports to keep their handheld devices fully charged. In addition to the rich portfolio of entertainment and connectivity options for each passenger, the in-flight amenities on these aircraft will also give customers control over their food choices, allowing them to create their own meal right on the screen at their seat.

In 2017, JetBlue was unveiled at the APEX Expo in Long Beach as the launch customer for Airbus' Airspace cabin for the A320 family. Following the announcement, Airbus and JetBlue worked together to bring a new level of passenger experience to reality for JetBlue passengers on their A321LRs with Airspace for the first time.

The long-standing partnership between Airbus and JetBlue began in 1999, when JetBlue took delivery of its first A320. Two years later, the airline placed an order for 48 Airbus aircraft. After years of exceptional growth, JetBlue now operates a fleet of more than 200 A320 and A321 aircraft and has ordered approximately 70 more aircraft - including additional A321LRs as well as other A321neo variants, all of which will feature Airspace interiors. The airline has also ordered the smallest member of the Airbus single-aisle family, the A220, the first of which will soon enter service.

The A321LR, a member of the A320neo family, features 30 percent fuel savings and a nearly 50 percent reduction in noise compared to previous generations of aircraft. With an increased range of up to 7,400 km (4,000 nm), the A321LR is the unrivaled long-range opener with true transatlantic capability and first-class wide-body comfort in a single-aisle cabin. With the new fleet, airlines will benefit from the lowest operating costs in their respective size categories, as well as the unique commonality of Airbus Family variants.

At the end of March 2021, the A320neo Family had received more than 7,450 firm orders from over 120 customers worldwide.