ATHENS— Greece’s leading carrier, Aegean Airlines (A3), has announced a significant step in its international expansion plans with India routes. The airline will acquire two Airbus A321XLR (Extra Long Range) aircraft, set to join its fleet in December 2025 and January 2026.
The A321 XLRs enhance Aegean’s sub-fleet, which the airline believes is “special purpose” designed for long-haul routes. This paves the way for new direct flights from Athens (ATH) to New Delhi (DEL) and Mumbai (BOM), India, starting in March 2026.
The new flights will help Aegean to strengthen its global presence and cater to high-demand markets in Asia.
Photo: AEGEANAegean Airlines A321neo XLR
The Airbus A321neo XLR aircraft boasts an extended range of up to 10.5 hours in Aegean’s case. This is a significant improvement over the A321neo LR’s 7.5-hour capability and the standard A321neo’s 6-hour range. This allows Aegean to reach distant destinations while offering a premium travel experience.
However, the XLR range will be heavily based on that particular airline’s configuration. The Aegean A321XLR aircraft will feature a cabin configuration with only 138 seats. This includes 24 Business Class Suites with fully lie-flat beds and direct aisle access.
The aircraft will have 114 Economy Class seats with enhanced comfort. All seats will include 4K in-flight entertainment screens, satellite Wi-Fi, USB and device charging ports, and spacious overhead bins tailored for long-haul journeys.
Photo: © Mitchell R Hope | Wikimedia CommonsNew Routes to India
Aegean will launch five weekly flights from Athens to New Delhi in March 2026. This will be followed by three weekly flights to Mumbai in May 2026.
Ticket sales for these routes are set to begin in late September 2025. The exact flight schedules and timings will be announced at that time. Both of these routes will be operated by A321neo XLR aircraft.
The XLR builds on Aegean’s earlier order of four A321neo LR aircraft, which was announced in April 2024. These are scheduled for delivery in 2027 and 2028.
With the addition of the two A321XLRs, Aegean’s total order for Airbus A320/A321neo family aircraft now stands at 60. Of these, 36 have been delivered.
The “special purpose” sub-fleet, comprising the six A321neo LR and XLR aircraft, will be used to serve non-Europe destinations. This includes flight durations exceeding four hours, offering a differentiated travel experience.
Photo: AegeanAegean Airlines Growth
Aegean’s CEO, Dimitris Gerogiannis, emphasized the importance of this investment for both the airline and Greece, stating,
The expansion of our investment plan with the additional order of two Airbus A321neo XLR aircraft is a significant step towards growing our reach and capabilities. We aim to offer our passengers a new level of comfort and services while connecting Greece to high-potential markets like India.”
Aegean’s CEO, Dimitris Gerogiannis
The A321neo XLR offers over 20% fuel savings and CO₂ reduction compared to previous-generation aircraft.
In 2024, Aegean and its subsidiary Olympic Air carried 16.3 million passengers, offering 19.7 million seats across 47 countries. For 2025, the airline’s network includes 250 routes, connecting 162 destinations in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.
The addition of the A321neo XLR aircraft and new routes to India position Aegean to compete with larger carriers on long-haul routes. Most Indian passengers travel via ME3 airlines to Greece at the moment.
Aegean Airlines A320neo | Photo: Wikimedia CommonsLooking Ahead
Aegean’s investment in the A321neo XLR and its entry into the Indian market mark a bold step in its global expansion. Aegean is poised to capture the growing demand for travel between Europe and Asia.
The airline is also considering additional destinations, such as Bangalore in India, Seychelles, Maldives, Nairobi, Almaty, and Lagos. The airline said that these are long-term expansion plans with the A321neo LR deliveries in 2027 and 2028.
Greece’s strategic location at the southeast edge of Europe can connect Europe with key markets in Asia and Africa. These new routes planned will be aimed at capitalizing on the connecting potential of the airline via Athens.
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Aegean Orders 4 Airbus A321neo for New Flights to Asia and Africa
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