Direct Operating Costs, Fuel Consumption, and Layout of the Airbus A321LR

Fonseca, Diego

doi:10.15488/19167

Direct Operating Costs, Fuel Consumption, and Layout of the Airbus A321LR

Diego Fonseca

Abstract
Purpose – Assessment of the Direct Operating Costs (DOC) and fuel consumption of the Airbus A321LR using typical use-cases and comparison with those from similar aircraft. Investigation of the flexibility of the cabin layout using examples from different airlines. Calculation of Ecolabels based on different cabin configurations. --- Methodology – All aircraft-related data is retrieved from the Original Equipment Manufacturers' (OEM) manuals. The DOC assessment uses the Association of European Airlines (AEA) and the TU Berlin method. The fuel consumption is assessed with a tool based on the Breguet Range equation, using successive iterations. The Ecolabel considers resource depletion, global warming, local air quality, and noise pollution, weighted and combined into one overall rating. A cabin study contrast layouts from Airbus with those from operators and also considering ergonomics. --- Findings – The A321LR offers improvements in flight range compared to A321CEO and A321NEO. It can operate medium range very efficiently with only minor payload reduction. Very low-density layouts of a few airlines are purely their marketing preferences. Costs per seat and Ecolabel rating vary significantly between low-density and high-density cabin configurations. Predictions for the A321XLR are also very favorable. --- Research Limitations – DOC results are not unique numbers but depend on the DOC method applied. Some of the characteristics for the XLR can so far only be estimated, since its entry into service is scheduled for 2023 and, as such, after the submission of this thesis. --- Practical Implications – Good reasons for operating the A321LR are elaborated. The Ecolabel allows passengers and operators to openly discuss the ecological implications of different cabin layouts. --- Originality – This seems to be the first scientific report that extensively investigates economic and ecologic aspects when operating the A321LR with different cabin layouts.

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Date: 2021-12-06

Type of work: Bachelor Thesis

Advisor / Examiner: Dieter Scholz

Published by: Aircraft Design and Systems Group (AERO), Department of Automotive and Aeronautical Engineering, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

This work is part of: transparent pin for text alignment Digital Library - Projects & Theses - Prof. Dr. Scholz --- http://library.ProfScholz.de pin

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PERSISTENT IDENTIFIER:

URN: https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:gbv:18302-aero2021-12-06.014 (to reach this page)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15488/19167

ARK: https://n2t.net/ark:/13960/s221t8xjnwg

Associated research data: https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/0QHDME    (Program)

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Keywords, German (GND): Luftfahrt,   Passagierflugzeug,   Airbus,   Airbus 320

Keywords, English (LCSH): Aeronautics,   Airplanes,   Airbus,   Airbus A320 (Jet transport)

Keywords, free: Luftfahrzeug, Kraftstoffverbrauch, Luftverschmutzung, Emission, Abgasemission, Kohlendioxidemission, Stickstoffoxide, Kondensstreifen, Umweltbilanz, Ökolabel, Flugzeugkabine, Betriebskosten, Kraftstofftank, CO2, NOX, Reichweite, Langstrecke, aeronautics, airplanes, aircraft, fuel, consumption, product, life cycle, environment, air, pollution, global warming, climatic changes, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, cabins, cost of operation, fuel tanks, range, long-range

DDC: 629.13,    629.133340423,    363.7392,    333.7968

RVK: ZO 7420

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Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dieter Scholz, MSME
E-Mail see: http://www.ProfScholz.de

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FONSECA, Diego, 2021. Direct Operating Costs, Fuel Consumption, and Layout of the Airbus A321LR. Bachelor Thesis. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Aircraft Design and Systems Group (AERO). Available from: https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:gbv:18302-aero2021-12-06.014 [viewed YYYY-MM-DD].

Major results / graphical abstract:

The Payload-Range Diagram of the Airbus A321XLR calculated from data as given in AIRBUS, 2020. A321, Aircraft Characteristics, Airport and Maintenance Planning. Archived at: https://perma.cc/3HL8-86BT and from other sources. * estimated values.

Fuel Consumption A321 XLR calculated from the Payload-Range Diagram and the tool given at https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/2HMEHB (Excel file from 2021-07-01). Fuel consumption decreases until the range at Maximum Payload (~6750 km). Further range is only possible with a reduced numbert of passengers along the brown curve (that stands for less than 240 passengers from here on).

Comparison of fuel consumption of Airbus A321 LR, XLR and A330-9neo, high density cabin seating. Fuel consumption for the DOC missions to be examined in the next figure.

Direct Operating Costs (DOC) calculated with the TU Berlin Method, standard cabin, without additional cargo. Calculations: See "Associated research data".

JetBlue A321 LR Cabin Design (archived).

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LAST UPDATE: 18 June 2025
AUTHOR: Prof. Dr. Scholz
IMPRESSUM (PDF)

  Prof. Dr. Scholz
  Aircraft Design and Systems Group (AERO)
  Aeronautical Engineering
  Department of Automotive and Aeronautical Engineering
  Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science
  Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Download full text:	TextFonseca.pdf Size: 7.7M
Date:	2021-12-06
Type of work:	Bachelor Thesis
Advisor / Examiner:	Dieter Scholz
Published by:	Aircraft Design and Systems Group (AERO), Department of Automotive and Aeronautical Engineering, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences
This work is part of:	Digital Library - Projects & Theses - Prof. Dr. Scholz --- http://library.ProfScholz.de

Download presentation:	VortragFonseca.pdf Size: 1.8M

PERSISTENT IDENTIFIER:
URN:	https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:gbv:18302-aero2021-12-06.014 (to reach this page)
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.15488/19167
ARK:	https://n2t.net/ark:/13960/s221t8xjnwg
Associated research data:	https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/0QHDME (Program)
URLs registered with URN:	Show all links associated with this text!

CATALOG ENTRY:
DNB:	Check inclusion of this title in German National Library!
WorldCat:	Check inclusion of this title in WorldCat!
DataCite:	Check inclusion of this title in DataCite!
Google Scholar:	Check inclusion of this title in Google Scholar!
OpenAIRE:	Check inclusion of this title in OpenAIRE!
Semantic Scholar:	Check inclusion of this title in Semantic Scholar!
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CORE:	Check inclusion of this title in CORE!
Google:	Check inclusion of this title in Google!

Keywords, German (GND):	Luftfahrt, Passagierflugzeug, Airbus, Airbus 320
Keywords, English (LCSH):	Aeronautics, Airplanes, Airbus, Airbus A320 (Jet transport)
Keywords, free:	Luftfahrzeug, Kraftstoffverbrauch, Luftverschmutzung, Emission, Abgasemission, Kohlendioxidemission, Stickstoffoxide, Kondensstreifen, Umweltbilanz, Ökolabel, Flugzeugkabine, Betriebskosten, Kraftstofftank, CO2, NOX, Reichweite, Langstrecke, aeronautics, airplanes, aircraft, fuel, consumption, product, life cycle, environment, air, pollution, global warming, climatic changes, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, cabins, cost of operation, fuel tanks, range, long-range
DDC:	629.13, 629.133340423, 363.7392, 333.7968
RVK:	ZO 7420