(Bloomberg) -- Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA is in talks with Airbus SE to buy the latest A321XLR jetliner as it seeks the extra range to serve smaller cities in the U.S. Midwest.
The discount carrier has started discussions with the European planemaker about the new narrow-body, which was formerly launched at this week’s Paris Air Show, Chief Executive Officer Bjorn Kjos told Bloomberg Television at the expo on Tuesday.
Norwegian Air is looking to convert existing orders for the A321LR to the extra-long-range plane, which can fly for 4,700 nautical miles, or 15% further than the earlier model. The company originally ordered 30 LRs, though it’s not certain that it will seek to switch all of those jets, or still plans to take that total, Bjorn said.
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The XLR could be deployed in markets such as Scandinavia and India on top of the U.S., according to the CEO. Norwegian operates most of its long-haul flights with Boeing Co.’s 787 Dreamliners, but considers the wide-body jet better suited to serving bigger airports such as London Gatwick.
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