IndiGo’s 1st Airbus A321XLR lands in Delhi: Here’s where it will fly and what’s onboard

The first long-range Airbus A321XLR for Indian giant IndiGo has landed in Delhi ahead of its entry into service.

Set to commence passenger service at the end of January, the aircraft’s arrival marks a step change for IndiGo, giving it the ability to fly long haul on its own aircraft for the first time.

Although the airline has been flying to destinations including Manchester, Amsterdam and Copenhagen, this has been with leased Norse Atlantic Boeing 787s.

With 69 Airbus A321XLRs on order, IndiGo is set to become the biggest operator of the long-range narrowbody. And with the first aircraft now in India, IndiGo will be keen to stamp its mark on the long-haul passenger experience.

A long delivery flight for IndiGo’s first A321XLR

According to data from Flightradar24, the delivery flight took off yesterday, 6 January, at around 18:30. Departing from Hamburg, the Airbus A321XLR, with tail number VT-NLA, flew east for almost six hours to reach Abu Dhabi, where it landed at 03:17 local time this morning.

After a few hours on the ground, the aircraft took off once more at 08:55 this morning, 7 January, to fly to Delhi. Flying for just over three hours, the aircraft finally landed in its new home at 13:32 local time.

The A321XLR has additional fuel tanks to provide it with an extra-long range of up to 4,700 nmi. As such, it could have theoretically flown directly from Hamburg to Delhi, as the direct Great Circle distance is under 3,300 nmi.

But with Russian airspace closed and airlines avoiding overflying Iran, the trip had to take a rather circuitous route to get to its destination. With the routing the flight took, the whole trip covered around 4,000 nmi – a distance the XLR can theoretically cover, but why push a brand new aircraft to its limits?

Where will IndiGo fly its Airbus A321XLR?

The first route to see the shiny new Airbus will be IndiGo’s new service to Athens in Greece. The airline will fly three times weekly from Mumbai to Athens, starting on 23 January.

A day later, the airline will begin service to Athens from Delhi, also flying three times weekly. The published schedule is below:

Both routes cover roughly 3,100 miles (5,000 km), well within the A321XLR’s 4,700-mile (7,560 km) range. In practical terms, that puts the outbound sector at around seven and a half hours in the air.

What’s onboard the IndiGo Airbus A321XLR?

IndiGo’s A321XLR marks a meaningful step change in the airline’s onboard proposition, particularly for flights in the seven to eight-hour range. While the airline is sticking firmly to its low-cost DNA, the XLR introduces a more complete long-haul experience than anything previously offered on IndiGo’s own metal.

Business Class (IndiGo Stretch)

IndiGo’s premium cabin on the A321XLR features 12 Business Class seats, branded as IndiGo Stretch. The airline continues with a recliner-style seat rather than a flatbed, positioning the product as functional rather than luxurious.

Key features include:

• Recaro R5 seats in a 3–3 layout, consistent with IndiGo Stretch on other aircraft
• 44 inches of seat pitch, up from 38 inches on existing Stretch aircraft
• Calf rests added for improved comfort on longer sectors
• Leatherette headrests
• Universal power outlet and USB charging at each seat
• Dedicated Business Class lavatory at the front

While not designed for overnight long-haul comfort, the increased pitch and calf rest should make the product workable for daytime and early-evening sectors.

In Business Class, passengers can expect the catering to be stepped up for these longer flights, too. Hot meals will be served onboard, with vegetarian options by default, and possibly a second meal service on the longest flights. Unlimited alcohol is offered, including Sula Wines, a new partner of the airline.

IndiGo has been clear that this is not a luxury product; there will be no champagne or caviar onboard, but the offering is designed to be competitive at a lower price point than full-service carriers.

Economy Class

The A321XLR’s Economy cabin uses the Recaro R2 seat, upgraded compared with IndiGo’s domestic fleet.

Economy features include:

• 31 inches of seat pitch, up from 28.5 inches on domestic aircraft
• Extra seat padding for longer flights
• Adjustable headrests
• Seatback device holders
• USB charging ports at every seat

While not offering seatback screens, the cabin is configured to feel less dense and more comfortable than IndiGo’s short-haul aircraft.

IndiGo is introducing wireless streaming IFE on the A321XLR through a partnership with Bluebox Aviation Systems. Passengers can stream content to personal devices, including films, TV and games. This represents a notable upgrade for the airline, which traditionally operates without onboard entertainment.

Catering in economy will include a hot meal and soft drinks, although alcoholic drinks will be available for purchase.

Featured image: IndiGo

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