Is The A322 Airbus’ Next Aircraft?

As Airbus continues to dominate the largely uncontested middle market sector, could the rumoured A322 be the next aircraft it releases?

What Is The A322?

The A322, to be built by European planemaker Airbus, was a proposed single-aisle aircraft that had been a strategy for some time.

In premise, the A322 would have looked like an extension of the A321, which has become so successful recently.

Nowadays, the A321 programme is Airbus’ best performing year over year, and an A322 was considered a way to extend that success further.

Interest in an A322 emerged in 2021 when Bloomberg reported that the planemaker was considering adding new, efficient engines to the A320 body.

Furthermore, the planemaker would further study a new composite wing to scale up production to higher rates.

Such a new wing has been largely discussed as Airbus’ new era as it seeks ways to make its aircraft even more efficient.

Airbus isn’t the only planemaker leading the way in wing studies. Fierce but struggling competitor Boeing has its TTBW study aligning with NASA, which, if successful, hopes to be adopted on a broader scale for commercial aircraft.

Why It Never Happened

Despite some discussion surrounding a prospective A322, the aircraft never eventuated.

Throughout its time in the industry, Airbus has looked to study key prospective aircraft, with many not making it past the drawing board.

All these relevant studies are important in shaping the manufacturer’s future and helping it focus on profitable programmes.

While not publicly confirmed, the proposed stretch could have added four additional rows of seating, creating greater opportunity for the upper class to further economy class rows.

However, public interest in the aircraft didn’t exist as other, more sensible avenues began to be explored.

The A321XLR

One of the more exciting developments in the A320neo broader family is the A321XLR, an extra long-ranged variant of the A321neo.

While the A321XLR doesn’t focus on a stretch of the fuselage, such as the speculated A322, it does build upon range capabilities seen on the A321LR.

The XLR was announced in 2019 and burst onto the scene with hundreds of airline orders worldwide.

Since its launch, the aircraft has been a resounding success despite some complications regarding certification. The mammoth orders have already helped prove the demand for such a variant.

Ultimately, this enhanced A321neo, the XLR, may have appeared to be Airbus’ more compelling option at the time.

While the A322 aimed to integrate new efficient technologies to boost customers’ economic advantages, there are equally strong arguments that the technology present wouldn’t have been enough to warrant a purchase at its first discussion.

However, the XLR’s capabilities through the additional fuel tank could be a majorly beneficial but cheap alternative without any major ramifications.

Airbus could argue that when an airline considers the A322, it may jump to the A330neo. The A321neo and its derivatives currently act as the ideal bridge.

Was No A322 A Mistake?

Airbus’ decision not to proceed with an A322 was important, but was it right?

Based on current performance metrics regarding the adoption of the XLR, no the A322 could not necessarily be viewed as a mistake.

The A321XLR has been a resounding success. It has slotted into the middle of the market as an alternative for longer-ranged flying on a single aisle at a fraction of the cost.

Furthermore, Boeing’s failure to proceed with its own NMA allows Airbus to largely run the market uncontested, which has proved to be a huge advantage for the manufacturer.

If Airbus had pitched its A322 to airlnes but received little to no interest or interest that wasn’t firm enough to proceed, it’d make sense not to proceed.

Looking Ahead At Airbus

While all this doesn’t rule out an A322 in the future if demand requires it, Airbus will want to wait and see how key technologies develop.

It’s widely considered that the next five or so years will be pivotal to developing technologies and implementing them into commercial airliners.

As a result, the upcoming years will be fascinating to watch, and labelling them as important for Airbus would be an understatement.

While its competitor, Boeing, struggles now, Airbus knows it must remain watchful for the day the American manufacturer returns to its former glory.

Once this occurs, Airbus will truly have a run for its money and will need to carefully make its next moves to further cement its position as a leader across the industry.