Airbus A320 vs A321: A Detailed Comparison

The Airbus A320 and A321 are two popular planes in the world of flying. They’re both part of the same Airbus A320 family, but they’re not exactly the same. They have differences in how big they are, how far they can fly, and how many people they can carry. In this article, we’ll compare these two planes to see what makes each of them special and how they fit into different kinds of airline jobs.

Airbus A320 vs A321

When we look at the Airbus A320 Vs A321, we can see that both planes are similar in speed, as they can both fly at a maximum speed of M0.82. However, the A321 stands out because it can fly further, with a range of 7,400 km compared to the A320’s 6,200 km. The A321 is also a bigger and heavier plane. For example, it can carry more weight at take-off, with a max of 97.00 tonnes, while the A320 can carry up to 78.00 tonnes. This means the A321 can take more passengers and cargo. Also, the A321 can hold more fuel, with a tank that fits 32,940 litres, compared to the A320’s 27,200 litres. So, while both planes are pretty similar, the A321 is like a bigger version of the A320, able to go further and carry more.

This table showcases a side-by-side comparison of the key specifications for the Airbus A320 Vs A321, highlighting their dimensions, capacity, and performance differences.

Specification	Airbus A320	Airbus A321
Overall Length	37.57 m	44.51 m
Cabin Length	27.51 m	34.44 m
Fuselage Width	3.95 m	3.95 m
Max Cabin Width	3.70 m	3.70 m
Wing Span (Geometric)	35.80 m with Sharklets	35.80 m
Height	11.76 m	11.76 m
Track	7.59 m	7.59 m
Wheelbase	12.64 m	16.90 m
Max Seating Capacity	180	244
Typical Seating (2-Class)	140-170	180-220
Cargo LD3 Capacity Underfloor	7 LD3-45W	10 LD3-45W
Max Pallet Number Underfloor	7	10
Water Volume	44 m³	59 m³
Range with Sharklets	6,200 km	7,400 km
Maximum Operating Mach Number (Mmo)	M0.82	M0.82
Max Ramp Weight	78.40 tonnes	97.40 tonnes
Max Take-Off Weight	78.00 tonnes	97.00 tonnes
Max Landing Weight	66.00 tonnes	79.20 tonnes
Max Zero Fuel Weight	62.50 tonnes	75.60 tonnes
Max Fuel Capacity	27,200 litres	32,940 litres

Airbus A320

The Airbus A320, the first of the A320 family, was launched in the late 1980s and soon became really popular with airlines because it’s so versatile. It usually has seats for about 150-180 people and is great for flights that aren’t too long. One of the best things about the A320 is that it doesn’t use a lot of fuel and doesn’t cost too much to run, thanks to its smart design and modern engines. The inside of the plane is comfy and can be set up in different ways to fit what different airlines need.

Airbus A321

The Airbus A321, which is a bigger version of the A320, can fit more people – about 185 to 220 passengers. It first came out in the mid-1990s and has a lot of the same smart tech and design features as the A320. It’s really good for airlines that want to fly more people on the same kind of trips that the A320 does. The A321 has some changes too, like a stronger landing gear to handle the extra weight from more passengers.

Airbus A320 vs A321 Engines

The Airbus A320 and A321, while similar in many ways, including their engines, do have some differences in how they use fuel, partly due to their size. Both aircraft are commonly fitted with either CFM International LEAP engines or Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines. These engines are celebrated for their efficiency, helping the planes to save on fuel and reduce emissions.

In terms of power, the CFM International LEAP engines can deliver between 24,500 and 35,000 pounds of thrust, while the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines offer a thrust range of 22,000 to 33,000 pounds. This power allows both the A320 and A321 to operate efficiently, although the larger A321, due to its increased size and weight, may consume slightly more fuel, especially when fully loaded with passengers or cargo. Nevertheless, both models are designed with eco-friendliness in mind, leveraging these modern engines to balance performance with environmental considerations.

Airbus A320 vs A321 Fuel Comparison

When we compare the Airbus A320 and A321 in terms of fuel, there are a few interesting things to look at, like how much fuel they can carry, how much fuel they use, and what that means in terms of cost. Airbus A320 and A321 are both known for their fuel efficiency, but they have some differences in their fuel use, capacity, and range.

Airbus A320 Fuel Capacity

• The A320 typically uses about 2,100 liters of fuel per hour during a normal flight.
• It has a maximum fuel capacity of 29,660 liters (7,835 US gallons), with tanks located in the wings and wing center section.
• Extra tanks can be added in the aft cargo area, allowing for more fuel storage.
• The A320’s fuel endurance is about 5-6 hours on a full tank, making it ideal for medium-range flights.
• It mostly uses Jet-A1 fuel, known for its efficiency and high power output.
• The A320 saves up to 15% on fuel and burns approximately 2,200 to 2,600 kilograms per hour, which is about 36.66 to 43.33 kilograms per minute.

Airbus A321 Fuel Capacity

• The A321, with Sharklet wingtips, is also fuel-efficient, using about 2.2 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers per passenger in a 200-seat layout.
• Its fuel tanks are located in the center fuselage and wings.
• The A321 can fly for up to 13 hours without needing to refuel, covering longer distances than the A320.
• It has a fuel capacity ranging from 24,050 to 30,030 liters (6,350 to 7,930 US gallons).

While both the A320 and A321 are efficient, the A320 is more suited for shorter, medium-range flights with its fuel capacity and consumption. The A321, with a longer range and larger fuel capacity, is ideal for longer flights, maintaining efficiency even over extended distances.

Cabins And Capacity

When we look at how much the Airbus A320 and A321 can carry, the A321 is the clear winner because it’s bigger. It can seat a lot more people – up to 244, while the A320 can take up to 180. If we’re talking about regular flights with two kinds of seats, the A321 still has more room for 180 to 220 people, compared to the A320’s 140-170. For carrying things like luggage, the A321 can fit 10 big cargo containers under the floor, which is 3 more than the A320.

It’s the same with pallets for cargo; the A321 can take 10 under the floor, while the A320 fits 7. Even for storing water, the A321 can hold 59 cubic meters, more than the A320’s 44. So, if an airline needs to fly more people or more stuff, the A321 is the better choice because it just has more space.

Specification	Airbus A320	Airbus A321
Max Seating Capacity	180	244
Typical Seating in 2-Class	140-170	180-220
Cargo LD3 Capacity Underfloor	7 LD3-45W	10 LD3-45W
Max Pallet Number Underfloor	7	10
Water Volume	44 m³	59 m³

Range And Performance : Airbus A320 vs A321

Comparing the Airbus A320 and A321 in terms of performance, we see some interesting differences. The A321 can fly further, with a range of 7,400 km compared to the A320’s 6,200 km. Both planes have the same speed capability, but when it comes to weight, the A321 is heavier across the board. It has a maximum ramp weight of 97.40 tonnes, which is quite a bit more than the A320’s 78.40 tonnes.

This trend continues with take-off, landing, and zero fuel weights, where the A321 is heavier in all categories. Also, the A321 can carry more fuel, with a capacity of 32,940 litres, compared to the A320’s 27,200 litres. Basically, the A321 is built to handle more, be it more fuel or weight, and can travel longer distances than the A320.

Specification	Airbus A320	Airbus A321
Range with Sharklets	6,200 km	7,400 km
Maximum Operating Mach Number	M0.82	M0.82
Max Ramp Weight	78.40 tonnes	97.40 tonnes
Max Take-Off Weight	78.00 tonnes	97.00 tonnes
Max Landing Weight	66.00 tonnes	79.20 tonnes
Fuel Weight	62.50 tonnes	75.60 tonnes
Max Fuel Capacity	27,200 litres	32,940 litres

Airbus A320 vs A321 Dimensions

The Airbus A320 and A321 have some noticeable differences in their dimensions, even though they’re part of the same family.

Airbus A320 Dimensions

The A320 is a medium-sized aircraft with an overall length of 37.57 meters. Its cabin, where passengers sit, measures 27.51 meters in length. The fuselage, or main body of the plane, is 3.95 meters wide, while the cabin is slightly narrower at 3.70 meters. This plane also features a wingspan of 35.80 meters, including Sharklets at the tips for better aerodynamics. In terms of height, it stands at 11.76 meters. The distance between the wheels, known as the track, is 7.59 meters, and the wheelbase – the distance between the front and back wheels – is 12.64 meters.

Feature	Dimension
Overall length	37.57 m
Cabin length	27.51 m
Fuselage width	3.95 m
Max cabin width	3.70 m
Wing span (geometric)	35.80 m with Sharklets
Height	11.76 m
Track	7.59 m
Wheelbase	12.64 m

Airbus A321 Dimensions

On the other hand, the A321 is longer, with an overall length of 44.51 meters and a cabin length of 34.44 meters. Despite its increased length, it shares the same fuselage width of 3.95 meters and cabin width of 3.70 meters as the A320. The wingspan also remains the same at 35.80 meters. Height-wise, it matches the A320 at 11.76 meters. However, due to its longer body, the wheelbase of the A321 is extended to 16.90 meters, while the track stays the same at 7.59 meters.

Feature	Dimension
Overall length	44.51 m
Cabin length	34.44 m
Fuselage width	3.95 m
Max cabin width	3.70 m
Wing span (geometric)	35.80 m
Height	11.76 m
Track	7.59 m
Wheelbase	16.90 m

Airbus A320 vs A321 Price Comparison

When deciding which plane is better in terms of cost, the Airbus A320 or the A321, The Airbus A320 is better than Airbus A321, The A321 is a bit more expensive, ranging from $118.3 million to $129.5 million for a new one.

Aircraft	New Aircraft Price	Average Used Price
Airbus A320	$101 million	$25 million
Airbus A321	$118.3 million to $129.5 million	$35 to 43million

Airbus A320 Price

The brand-new Airbus A320 starts at around $101 million. If you’re looking for something more budget-friendly, a second-hand A320 is much cheaper, costing about $25 million on average. This makes the A320 a great choice if you want to save money or if you’re not flying super long distances or carrying lots of passengers.

Airbus A320 Price

The A321 is a bit more expensive, ranging from $118.3 million to $129.5 million for a new one. The price for a used A321 isn’t mentioned, but it’s likely to be less than a new one, just like with the A320. The A321 costs more because it’s a bigger plane that can carry more people and fly further.

Operational Flexibility

The operational flexibility of both aircraft is a key selling point. The A320’s smaller size makes it ideal for airports with size constraints, while the A321’s increased capacity is beneficial for high-demand routes without the need for a larger aircraft.

Conclusion

In summary, the Airbus A320 and A321 are both highly efficient and popular aircraft, but they serve slightly different purposes. The A320 is ideal for shorter, medium-range flights and is more suited to smaller passenger loads, while the A321, with its larger size and extended range, is perfect for airlines needing to carry more passengers over longer distances. Both planes offer similar speed and technical capabilities, but the A321’s increased capacity and range make it a more versatile choice for airlines looking to maximize their passenger and cargo space.

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