Keflavik, Iceland – Icelandair, the principal airline of Iceland, has placed a firm order for 13 Airbus A321XLRs, making the airline a new Airbus customer. In addition to this, the airline plans to lease four A321LRs.

The A321XLR’s extended range will allow Icelandair to capture new market opportunities, reduce operating costs, support sustainability targets, and offer premium cabin comfort to its passengers.

Expanding Operations and Sustainability Efforts

“We are very pleased to announce that we have now finalized the purchase agreement with Airbus. The efficient A321XLR aircraft will further strengthen our business model, increase our flexibility, provide opportunities for future growth, and support our sustainability efforts,” said Bogi Nils Bogason, CEO of Icelandair.

Bogason added, “The first aircraft is scheduled for delivery in 2029, but we plan to have four Airbus aircraft in operation before the summer of 2025. We have now secured the lease of new A321LR aircraft with our long-term partner SMBC Aviation Capital Limited.”

Airbus Welcomes Icelandair as New Customer

Expressing his delight on this new partnership, Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International, said, “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Icelandair for placing their trust and confidence in Airbus. It fills us with immense pride to welcome Icelandair as a new Airbus customer. By harnessing the exceptional performance of the A321XLR, your airline is forging a path of sustainable growth with remarkable efficiency and a significant reduction in CO2 emissions.”

Features of the A321XLR

The A321XLR, an evolutionary step from the A320neo, caters to market needs for enhanced range and payload, creating more value for airlines. It offers an extraordinary long range of up to 4,700 nm, which is 15% more than the A321LR. It also boasts 30% lower fuel burn per seat compared to previous generation competitor aircraft, reduced NOx emissions, and noise.

Passengers will experience superior travel comfort in the A321XLR’s new Airspace cabin, with seating across all classes that match the comfort of a long-haul wide-body while maintaining the low costs of a single-aisle aircraft.

As of the end of May 2023, the A320neo Family had received more than 8,750 orders from 136 customers worldwide.