behind the scenes of the manufacture of the A321 XLR, the lastborn of the manufacturer

A flagship at the finishes stadium. Airbus’s latest addition is sold for around 100 million euros, according to the estimates of France Télévisions. A pride for technicians who bring the last touch to Its constructionin Toulouse (Haute-Garonne). But how is this device made? For Airbus, the challenge is double: produce more and pollute less.

A plane is first of all a fuselage, the central part of the machine. It is assembled in a huge Hamburg factory (Germany), which has 18,000 employees. The second largest Airbus site in Europe. These workshops are the back of the legendary A380. The A321 XLR is smaller, much cheaper. The aluminum structure is one to five millimeters thick.

The chain is under tension because all the companies want new. In 2024, Airbus delivered 766 planes, all models combined. The manufacturer has 8,658 devices on control, 50% more than Boeing. To keep its advance, the A321 XLR has a major asset: a major innovation in the hold.

Find the entire report in the video above