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.

This marks the second incident of cats disappearing on the Greek airline’s flights in two years. Last year, the carrier lost a kitten on a flight from Crete to Munich, Germany.

A Story With A Happy Ending

According to the report, Vet Bethany Mulcahy-Stephenson and her husband, Adam, had rescued the cats in Crete and arranged their transport to Paris, where the couple planned to collect them. But while traveling to Calais, they were informed by a contact that Aegean Airlines had lost the kittens. Although the cats had reached Paris, they were never unloaded and were reportedly forgotten in the hold as the plane continued on to Thessaloniki.

After hearing the news, the couple feared they might never see them again, worrying about their safety in the cold, noisy hold without food or water. Initially, the airline stated that it would take two days for the cats to return on another flight to Paris, but later agreed to reroute them through Athens, this time allowing them to travel in the cabin with a handler. Speaking to The Guardian, Mulcahy-Stephenson said:

“I was shining the torch in there to count them all 10 times. I was so relieved to see them and have them in the car, safe. When they arrived, they were absolutely traumatized, they wouldn’t eat, we had them in the emergency vet.”

Aegean Airlines Gave No Apology, Couple Claimed

According to the report, the Greek national airline neither apologized for the incident nor explained why the three kittens were left in the aircraft’s hold. The couple described the cats as “traumatized,” while the airline maintained that the animals were never missed or forgotten at any point.

In a statement to the publication, Aegean Airlines said that the cats were never lost but were not unloaded right away because of “operational reasons.” The Greek airline explained that the kittens remained under the crew’s care throughout the journey and were reunited with their owners later that same evening. The crew provided them with food and water during the flight, ensuring constant supervision.

In March 2024, Aegean Airlines issued a statement after a kitten went missing on a flight from Chania Airport in Crete to Munich via Athens. According to a report by the Greek Reporter, the passenger arrived at Chania Airport with her kitten, Rodri, secured in a pet carrier and handed him over to airport staff. But during the stopover in Athens, she discovered the carrier had been damaged and Rodri had escaped, with no sign of him anywhere.

Pets Allowed In Aegean’s Aircraft Cabins

Aegean Airlines allows cats and dogs to travel in the cabin, but under certain rules. Each passenger may bring one pet, or two of the same species if they are familiar with each other and their combined weight, including the pet carrier, does not exceed 17.6 pounds (8 kg). Pets must also be clean, healthy, non-aggressive, not sedated, and well-behaved.

Pet owners must book their pets in advance with Aegean Airlines, either online or via the call center. Since each flight has a limited number of pets allowed, reservations are handled on a first-come, first-served basis. Travelers are advised to choose a window seat, as exit row and bulkhead seats are not available for passengers flying with pets.

Pet policies differ between airlines. Some carriers do not allow pets in the cabin at all, permitting them only in the aircraft’s hold.

Credits: Aegean Airline

The post This European Airline Has Now Lost Cats In Transport Twice In 2 Years first appeared on AircrewNews.com.