flydubai has taken a historic step in its fleet strategy by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Airbus for up to 150 A321neo family aircraft, marking the first time the Dubai-based carrier has placed an order with the European manufacturer. Announced on the second day of the Dubai Airshow, the agreement represents a major fleet diversification move for an airline…
Airbus is executing one of the most ambitious industrial expansions in modern aviation history, responding to surging demand from airlines and leasing companies by ramping up production across all commercial aircraft programs. Central to this strategy is the A321neo, now the dominant member of the A320 Family, which continues to drive Airbus’ record-breaking order backlog and output targets.
The first Airbus A321XLR, operated by Wizz Air and registered as G-XLRA (MSN 11631), sustained a tail strike incident while landing at Prague International Airport on September 11, 2025. The aircraft, arriving from London Gatwick Airport, experienced contact between the tail section of the fuselage and the runway during touchdown.
Qantas has confirmed that its first two Airbus A321XLR aircraft, named Great Ocean Road (VH-OGA) and Outback Way (VH-OGB), will enter commercial service on September 25, 2025, marking a major step in the airline’s ongoing fleet renewal program. The inaugural flights will connect Sydney with Perth and Sydney with Melbourne, pending final regulatory approvals.
Air Canada has revealed Palma de Mallorca as the inaugural new destination for its Airbus A321XLR fleet, with flights from Montréal–Trudeau (YUL) set to begin on June 17, 2026. This marks the airline’s first use of the highly anticipated extra-long-range narrowbody and the first time a Canadian carrier will serve the Spanish island directly.
United Airlines will debut its new Airbus A321XLR fleet in summer 2026, marking a significant step in the carrier’s long-haul and premium service strategy. The aircraft will feature a 150-seat, three-class configuration with 20 Polaris business class seats, 12 premium economy seats, and 118 economy seats, including 36 Economy Plus seats with extra legroom.
Qantas has confirmed an order for 20 additional Airbus A321XLR aircraft, further strengthening its narrowbody fleet modernization program. With this new commitment, Qantas now holds a total of 48 A321XLRs on order, making it one of the largest future operators of the long-range narrowbody type.
Aegean Airlines has revealed plans to launch nonstop flights from Athens to Delhi and Mumbai starting March 2026, utilizing its newly acquired Airbus A321XLR aircraft. The two jets were purchased from JetBlue and Airbus, and they will retain the premium-heavy 24 business and 114 economy seat layout previously used by JetBlue on its transatlantic operations.
Wizz Air has significantly reduced its order for Airbus A321XLR aircraft, trimming its original commitment from 47 to just 10–15 units, according to statements made during the carrier’s most recent earnings call. The move, labeled a “conversion” rather than a cancellation, comes as Wizz Air prepares to shut down its Abu Dhabi-based unit in September, marking a major strategic retreat from…
Aer Lingus has posted a robust operating profit of €135 million for the second quarter of 2025, reflecting a marked improvement over the €91 million recorded during the same period in 2024. This significant uptick underscores the airline’s strategic success in expanding its transatlantic and European network, alongside disciplined cost management and favorable fuel prices.
