<p class="ingestion featured-caption">I toured the world's first passenger Airbus A321XLR and look forward to one day flying on it.Taylor Rains/Business Insider</p><ul class="summary-list"><li>Spanish airline Iberia operated the first transatlantic Airbus A321XLR flight on Thursday.</li><li>The A321XLR's extra fuel tank allows it to fly 5,400 miles nonstop, opening new routes for airlines.</li></ul><p>Spanish flag carrier Iberia operated the first-ever <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/airbus-a321-xlr-plane-launch-new-routes-cabins-iberia-american-2024-9">commercial transatlantic Airbus A321XLR</a> flight from Madrid to Boston on Thursday.</p><p>The narrow-body plane's launch represents a <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/airbus-a321-xlr-plane-launch-game-changer-new-routes-iberia-2024-7">new era for long-haul travel</a>. Thanks to its extra fuel tank, the A321XLR can fly up to 11 hours nonstop, <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/airbus-a321xlr-routes-airlines-flights-range-10-2024">opening new routes for airline<em>s </em></a>between lower-demand cities that were previously unprofitable on larger aircraft. </p><p>I toured Iberia's swanky new aircraft, outfitted with economy and business classes, on Friday. I thought the plane's luxe business class was easily suitable for long-haul flights. Economy looked comfortable for a seven-hour trek across the Atlantic, but there are certain seats I would avoid. </p><p>I look forward to flying Iberia's new jet one day — especially since I prefer <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/see-cities-united-plans-to-fly-new-airbus-a321xlr-2024-8">riding on narrowbody planes</a> across the Atlantic and am happy the A321XLR will expand the possible destinations. </p>