Icelandair receives first A321neo
December 4, 2024
The new aircraft is the first Airbus aircraft of any type for Icelandair, and is the first of four to be leased from SMBC Aviation Capital Limited, with three more due from CDB. Icelandair also has orders and lease agreements in place for 20 A321neos. These will be augmented by 13 A321XLRs for delivery from 2029 onwards.
The arrival of the first A321LR/A321-200NX (TF-IAA, 12213) made Icelandair the newest Airbus operator and marked the first step in the carrier’s planned fleet renewal. This will see the A321neo will replace the last of Icelandair’s ageing Boeing 757s.
The aircraft new aircraft is due to enter commercial service on 10 December 2024, with an inaugural flight to Stockholm and then on to Copenhagen. On 5 January 2025, the new aircraft is scheduled to fly a one-off service to Amsterdam. The A321neo fleet is eventually expected to operate services in Canada and the US.
The Icelandair A321LR is powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines, providing extended range and making the aircraft capable of flying routes of up to 4,000 nautical miles. The A321LR’s cutting-edge technology and advanced fuel efficiency is claimed to deliver at least 20% fuel savings and CO₂ reduction compared to previous generation single-aisle aircraft. As with all Airbus aircraft, the A321neo aircraft is already able to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), and this will increase to up to 100% SAF capability by 2030. Icelandair’s A321LR aircraft will thereby support the airline’s sustainability efforts, increasing operational efficiency while significantly reducing CO₂ emissions.
The airline’s A321LR is configured with 187 seats in a two-class layout (22 Business and 165 Economy Class seats). The aircraft’s ‘Airspace’ cabin features extra large bins, providing 60% more stowage space compared to previous generation aircraft. Passengers will benefit from advanced gate-to-gate connectivity, next generation inflight entertainment and the latest lighting system.
More than 6,700 A321neo have been ordered to date, gaining more than 90 customer airlines across the globe.
