What Is The Airbus A321neo's 'Cabin Flex' Configuration?

Several years ago, Airbus introduced what it called "cabin flex." The planemaker worked out that it could increase the number of passengers that its A321neo could fly just by tinkering with the location, layout, and number of emergency exit doors. Let’s look at these changes and their outcome.
Article link: simpleflying.c...

[@eamonahern7495]

The concept seems easy enough to understand. Makes a lot of sense.

[@aidanzacharyguzman1676]

Cebu Pacific also has A321neos in that config. Their A321neos can seat 236 pax in a single-class economy configuration.

[@mirzaahmed6589]

Wizz Air has 239.

[@aidanzacharyguzman1676]

@@mirzaahmed6589 Bruh that must be tight. Cebu Pacific's A321neos might have an all-economy config, but the legroom is not that bad.

[@thirdy_ty3496]

It'll be bad if a321 will squeeze more passenger seats further and there would be no space.

[@Star841]

JetBlue has both regular and ACF versions of the 321 and place no more than 200 seats on all economy configurations. Giving you that legroom!

[@filledwithvariousknowledge2747]

Didn’t Boeing have this exit layout first with 737-900ER?

[@aidengillag]

The 737-900ER had a similar layout but it is smaller.

[@florky_01]

wings flex NOW THE CABIN FLEXES

[@Nobi36]

Flex in that ehh what you call it the word for it is like the more changes you can do on the aircraft haha, But nice joke

[@neilpickup237]

It seems to allow maximum flexibility and have most configurations covered. The flexibility should increase the number of customers wanting to take on previous customers aircraft, which may have been configured with a business class cabin, and presumably help maintain its second hand values, further reducing the running costs for the first operator. Additionally, blocking off unnecessary doors will mean less doors to maintain. The one disadvantage that I can see, is for those airlines who like to board through the door in front of the wing to allow the premium passengers to 'turn left'.

[@Nobi36]

I like the a321NX actually liked the less 2 doors and added the 2 em doors but I also like the 3 door configuration on the back

[@donaldstanfield8862]

👋

[@paulo.3065]

Airbus comes up with some funky designs. I like to stay away Airbus equipment but enjoy the a330.

[@maxyliu8001]

1:06 love the caption that says "asid"

[@mylifeasjean]

Nice video! may I ask what song is playing the background?{ first few min} You use it often in video's, thanks in advance

[@RTPatYYZ]

Interesting video as always Simple Flying, but I would like to point out that the table ~00:23 has an error - I think "Door 4" should be "Door 3" and the second "Door 1" should actually be "Door 4".

[@alancrane2646]

Why is that? Door 1 is forward, door 4 is aft. Isn't that SIMPLE? (pun intended(

[@johnstarmer4354]

No surprise to me trying to find Airbus only airlines from now on

[@dbclass4075]

Airbus market share is huge in Asia.

[@ahmadzahid266]

I think Boeing have a similar idea for door configuration with 737-900 also the 757-200 and 767-300 have two different doors configuration that the airliner choosing the optimum for his number of seats and config

[@mirzaahmed6589]

The 1-class maximum for the A321neo is 244 passengers, not 240.

[@ScottysAir]

Can't they make new A321ULR? Will they ever consider it? The range is 5,500 miles. Is that good enough?

[@MarcvanExel]

Makes a lot of sense.

[@rileymcshane3522]

Anyone notice at 1:44 he put 62 instead of 162

[@tomstamford6837]

Anyone notice you forgot to put a question mark at the end of your sentence?

[@alancrane2646]

@@tomstamford6837 Anyone forgot to tell you that you're adopted?

[@tomstamford6837]

@@alancrane2646 Hey... the doofus wanted to be a smart arse and stick it to the creator with his witty observation only to make a simple error when doing so. It is just asking to be corrected. Especially with that trying to show off effort. You could learn from this yourself. As for you, doofus #2, it's "forget" as in "Anyone _forget_ to tell you that you're adopted?" Not "forgot." I'm not even going to bother with your pathetic use of an ad hominem attack. If that's where your argument goes because you have no substance, you shouldn't bother!

[@GarryWan666]

As an aviation logistician, I certainly believe this is where the future of flying is heading; smaller aircraft means less CO2 emission, it is also economically friendly for the airlines(which may indirectly save some costs for passengers). Each aircraft has limited amount of space, however fitting more passenger is certainly a smart choice. Besides, this might mean that every passenger will be paying less due to the reason that airlines have a targeted yield; if more passengers are paying, then every passenger will be paying less. For example in Asia, bigger aircraft are commonly used despite short routes(A380, B777, B747 for 4 hours routes); due to a much bigger population in Asia than in Europe, airlines have to operate some bigger jets, however this is not environmentally nor economically friendly since CO2 emission and unit cost will be higher for larger aircraft. This is where the "Flex" configuration takes the advantage in this case, since range is not prioritised the most in short haul flights. In other words, an A380 is capable of flying from Europe to America for example, this is on the other hand not important if the flight is only less than 4 hours long, which means smaller aircraft would be enough.

[@vedymin1]

I hope the cabin won't start flexing for real after those changes to the doors and structure :P

[@Crz4wizard]

Soo.. basically it would just look like the regular 321NEO with two over wing exits instead of the fwd wing door

[@donaldstanfield8862]

I reckon

[@gunvaldsandhaland7757]

good

[@davidlorenz54]

Good for low cost carriers in Asia Pacific region.

[@grriceman782]

Brilliant…wonder if Boeing is paying attention?

[@MarcusNesbitt4]

They definitely are. The most prominant example of Boeing doing something similar is with Ryanair and their Max 8-200s. These have additional exit doors to fit an increased maximum capacity of 197.

[@ecclestonsangel]

Boeing has already done this with their 737-800s, their 757-200s and their 767-300s. So basically Airbus is copying a layout Boeing has had for years.

[@grriceman782]

@@ecclestonsangel That’s not the same as cabin flex on the same airframe.

[@dbclass4075]

@@grriceman782 That's exactly what ecclestonsangel mean. The aircraft enumerated have cabin configurations in the same airframe.

[@ollie2074]

I think the 777-X also has this (forget which variant off the top of my head). One has 8 doors usually intended for airlines wanting a 3/4 class configuration and another with 10 doors intended for airlines wanting a 2 class configuration.

[@jaceortiz3793]

Ohh this is what I see with Cebu Pacific in the Philippines..

[@zedriclouis87]

**stares at 460-seater Cebu Pacific A330-900**

[@jaceortiz3793]

@@zedriclouis87 have you tried? Lucky you! 🤣

[@zedriclouis87]

@@jaceortiz3793 nope, but that would be *very* tight

[@The_G_89]

So how do they board? Do the board from the back or the front?

[@spongebubatz]

The L2 door on the original A321 was never really intended to be used for boarding (at least as far as I know). So just like the base A321 the A321NX uses the L1 door at the gate or L1 and L3 door for boarding on the ramp

[@proteen545]

3:37 can somebody please tell me when this A380 was at orlando? I can tell it's orlando you cannot hide this information from me I know somebody knows lol. I just feel like I would've saw a plane this big

[@carlos_mitosis]

2020. it went more than one time

[@clementtong7113]

Is this safe? Doors 1L and R seem to be quite far from the wing exists. I hope airbus is not sacrificing safety.

[@tomstravels520]

Depending on the door config will restrict the exit limit. Fewer doors lower exit limit (maximum passengers)

[@38911bytefree]

Well the are trying hard to fly with one just one pilot.

[@aarondynamics1311]

@@38911bytefree What's that got to do with anything?

[@tomstravels520]

@@38911bytefree only during cruise when nothing happens. There will always be 2 pilots on the plane

[@AviaZou7A]

It's safe as long as you don't get your baggage from your compartment blocking the passengers desperate to evacuate. :3

[@MSRTA_Productions]

🧐

[@RoderikvanReekum]

The Fokker F130NG will be superior on cabin configuration. The Fokker 130 offers a single class configuration carrying 137 passengers. Various alternative layouts are possible, including First or Business Class configurations with a wide four-abreast seating. Modular areas for galleys, lavatories, wardrobes and stowages are available. The Fokker 130 incorporates the latest manufacturing technologies and materials to create a modern and spacious passenger experience. Latest styling and lighting principles increase passenger comfort. The Fokker 130 has asymmetric luggage bins to provide maximum overhead stowage space. Under floor cargo capacity is increased by the fuselage stretch and miniaturization of under floor avionics equipment. The spacious interior dimensions and low cabin noise of the Fokker 130 provide a unique and attractive passenger centric experience.

[@sebastian.stamour]

Thats a regional jet though. Doesn't directly compete with the A321neo. The F130 would compete with the A220/E195

[@RoderikvanReekum]

@@sebastian.stamour Thanks for calling it a jet, It is no more than a fancy website for now.

[@Fal-t8w]

That’s exactly what Pilots flying Airbuses are missing ? Another section in FCOM 🙈 and Airbus will make it so hard that they themselves don’t understand it .

[@explorelondon3695]

It's flexible cabin, next

[@rednammoc]

weird flex but okay

[@zoebells767]

How about they stop trying to cram as many seats in, and not have to create some insane door concept. For gods sake the A321 is a small plane, not meant to fit hundreds of passengers

[@dbclass4075]

Airbus doesn't have an appropriate size plane yet. Capacity-wise, A330 can be too big.

[@miguelolivero2332]

The airbus 320 - 321 is a improve boing 757 if you look at it. Is the same fraim. Boing put to much on the old 737 old fraim. Big mistake. That's why boing lost... I know 737 was for some airlines request. But the aire fraim is to old for todays tecnology. The 757 airfraim is better. Long landing geers for those engines not like 737.

[@Lee247Jamaica]

How can’t you spell Boeing?

[@blue1901]

thats exactly why the 321 neo is absolutely rubbish! i was sitting and i got my neck screwed from it!!

[@ryan-maryannewaas7052]

Airbus is just always the SMARTEST than BOEING