In this post:

• Aegean no longer plans to fly Airbus A321XLRs
• I wonder what the real backstory is here
• Bottom line

Aegean no longer plans to fly Airbus A321XLRs

In 2024, Aegean announced plans to acquire four Airbus A321LRs, which is the long range version of the popular A321 aircraft. This is the second longest range A321-family aircraft, as there’s also the A321XLR, with the XLR standing for “extra long range.”

Then in 2025, the airline also reached an agreement to acquire two A321XLRs, on fairly short notice. The idea was that JetBlue had deferred its A321XLRs that were on order, and Aegean was going to take them over, more or less with JetBlue’s interiors. The planes would’ve had just 138 seats, including suites with direct aisle access.

The plan was for Aegean to take delivery of these planes in late 2025 and early 2026, and then start flying them in the spring of 2026. However, that’s no longer happening. As a matter of fact, the airline has completely canceled this order for two planes, as there were reportedly issues with getting the seats on the planes certified.

So the airline decided that if it couldn’t take delivery of them before summer and get them flying, it didn’t want them at all. Aegean now now reportedly just stick to the four A321LRs initially ordered, which will be delivered starting in 2027.

Aegean plans to make its long haul debut to India, flying to Delhi (DEL) and Mumbai (BOM). This will be in partnership with India’s IndiGo Airlines, which is flying A321XLRs in the same markets.

It remains to be seen if Aegean boosts its A321LR order in light of this development, or keeps the long haul fleet at four planes.

I wonder what the real backstory is here

While aircraft seat certification issues are incredibly common nowadays, it’s still a bit surprising to see this, given that JetBlue operates A321LRs with very similar interiors. Obviously we’re talking about different regulators here, but still.

Anyway, I have to imagine there’s a little more to this story. “Oh, we can’t get planes in time for one season, so let’s just cancel the order altogether.” After all, while summer is peak season in Greece, there’s still demand in winter to and from India, and Aegean has a robust connecting network throughout Europe and beyond.

I think it’s more likely that the certification issues gave the airline an “out” for this order, and they decided to use it. Why, though?

• Maybe Aegean decided a subfleet of just two planes isn’t scaled enough to be efficient
• Maybe in light of all the global uncertainty at the moment, the airline just (smartly) wants to postpone long haul flights, especially since current airspace restrictions could complicate these planned routes
• Maybe the airline had a change of heart with these very high premium and low capacity A321XLRs, and the potential economics

It’s anyone’s guess, but either way, I’m looking forward to seeing what the airline has planned for its A321LRs, which are expected to feature 178(ish) seats.

Bottom line

Aegean Airlines has long haul expansion plans, as the goal was to acquire six Airbus A321-family long range aircraft. This was supposed to include two A321XLRs (which were already supposed to be delivered), plus four A321LRs (to be delivered in 2027 and 2028).

Unfortunately Aegean no longer plans to take the two A321XLRs, due to seat certification issues. Aegean was supposed to fly A321XLRs intended for JetBlue, but due to the delivery delay, the airline no longer wants them. The claim is that the airline doesn’t want the planes because they’ll only be delivered after the peak summer season, but I have to imagine there’s more to the story than that.

Credits: Aegean Airlines

The post Aegean Scraps Airbus A321XLR Plans Over Seat Certification Issues first appeared on AircrewNews.com.

• Fleet: As of August 2025, 67 mainline aircraft: 27 Airbus A320-200s (180 seats), 21 Airbus A320neos (186 seats, fuel-efficient), 4 Airbus A321-200s (220 seats), and 15 Airbus A321neos (220 seats). Subsidiaries add ~16 aircraft (12 ATR 72-600s for Olympic Air regional routes, 2 Bombardier Q400s, and 2 VIP jets: Learjet 60 and Gulfstream G650). Orders: 24 more A320neo-family (18 A321neo, 4 A321LR with lie-flat seats for non-EU routes, 2 A321XLR for long-haul to India; deliveries 2025–2028). Total group fleet: ~83 aircraft, one of Europe’s youngest averages. Six additions planned for 2025 (3 A320/A321neo delivered, 3 more expected).
• Network: Serves 162 destinations in 47 countries via 250 routes (55 domestic, 195 international; ~300 weekly flights). Main hubs: Athens International (ATH), Thessaloniki Macedonia (SKG), Larnaca (LCA, Cyprus). Seasonal bases in Heraklion (HER), Rhodes (RHO), Corfu (CFU), Chania (CHQ), Mykonos (JMK), Santorini (JTR), and Preveza (PVK). Key expansions for 2025: New routes to Erbil (Iraq), Baku (Azerbaijan), Istanbul (from HER, JMK, RHO, JTR), Rome (from LCA), and domestic links (e.g., HER to RHO, Naxos, CFU, Kos; RHO to CHQ, JTR; SKG to Syros). Codeshares with IndiGo (India), Cyprus Airways, Discover Airlines; interlines with Trenitalia. Offers ~21.5 million seats in 2025 (+9% YoY).
• Codes and Allowances: IATA code A3; ICAO code AEE. Baggage: Economy 1x23kg checked + 8kg carry-on (EU/short-haul), 2x23kg (long-haul); Business 2x32kg + 10kg carry-on. Online check-in 48 hours–30 minutes prior.
• Workforce and Performance: Employs ~2,500 staff. Carried 16.3 million passengers in 2024 (+6% YoY); 1.9 million in Jan–Feb 2025 (+9%). H1 2025 revenue up 4% to ~€700M (est.), net profit +109% to €100M+, EBITDA + strong growth; cash equivalents €842M (June 2025). Q2 2025 load factor ~85%. Plans 21.2–21.5 million seats for 2025, focusing on international growth (60% of traffic).

Aegean positions itself as Europe’s top regional airline, driving Greek tourism and economic connectivity with a young, efficient fleet and strategic expansions.

Brief History

Aegean Airlines was founded on January 2, 1995, evolving from Aegean Aviation’s VIP jet operations, and launched commercial scheduled flights on May 28, 1999, with Avro RJ100s on Athens–Heraklion and Athens–Thessaloniki routes. It acquired Air Greece in December 1999, expanding domestically. The 2000s saw fleet growth: Phased out turboprops by 2004, ordered eight A320s (2005), and added Boeing 737-300/400s (retired 2010). Partnerships formed with Lufthansa (2005), TAP Portugal (2006), and Brussels Airlines (2008); codeshares expanded in 2009.

In 2010, Aegean joined Star Alliance and announced a merger with Olympic Air (blocked by EU in 2011 over monopoly fears). A revised acquisition of Olympic Air was approved in October 2013, completed February 2014, integrating routes while retaining brands. The 2010s focused on modernization: First FANS-B+ upgrades (2010), cabin retrofits (2014), seven new A320ceos (delivered 2016), and a major 30-aircraft A320neo-family order (2018; first A320neo 2019, A321neo 2020). Network grew to Europe/Middle East, with Cyprus hub post-Cyprus Airways bankruptcy (2012).

The 2020s emphasized resilience and expansion: Acquired 51% of Animawings (2020, sold 2024). COVID-19 recovery drove record 16.3 million passengers (2024). In 2024, extended neo order to 50 aircraft, adding A321LR/XLR for long-haul (e.g., India from late 2025). 2025 milestones: Six fleet additions, 21.5 million seats offered (+9%), new routes to Iraq/Azerbaijan/Turkey, IndiGo codeshare, and H1 profit surge (+109%). Aegean continues as Greece’s aviation leader, with ownership led by Theodoros Vassilakis (~34%).

The post Company Profile and Brief History for Aegean Airlines first appeared on AircrewNews.com.