Aegean Airlines Enhances Medium-Haul Service with Premium A321neo Aircraft

Aegean Airlines is set to elevate its medium-haul service by introducing four A321-200NX aircraft in a premium configuration, slated for delivery in 2026 and 2027. This strategic enhancement will mark the first time the Greek carrier incorporates lie-flat business class seats, aiming to provide an elevated travel experience for routes extending beyond the European Union.

Designed to accommodate fewer than 180 passengers—significantly lower than the 220 seats in its current all-economy A321neo—the new configuration will be detailed by mid-2024. Aegean Airlines is also enhancing the aircraft with additional fuel tanks to extend the flight range up to 7.5 hours. This upgrade will enable the airline to serve non-EU markets more effectively.

The intended destinations for these upgraded aircraft include current routes to the Middle East, such as Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dubai, along with potential new destinations like Bahrain, Doha, and Muscat. Additionally, Aegean is considering expanding into African markets with flights to Addis Ababa, Lagos, and Nairobi, as well as Asian routes to cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Almaty.

Dimitris Gerogiannis, CEO of Aegean Airlines, emphasized the strategic nature of this upgrade, stating, “We are making a significant investment in the extended range and a totally new level of comfort for an initial four-aircraft sub-fleet to give our crews the right tool to best represent Aegean values for these longer flight markets.” He highlighted that the standard European configuration would not be competitive against the widebody aircraft typically used by other carriers on these routes.

The airline clarified that these four extended-range aircraft are part of its existing order book, which includes commitments for twenty-one A320-200neos and twenty-nine A321neos through direct orders from Airbus and contracts with lessors. To date, Aegean has received sixteen A320-200neo and twelve A321neo aircraft. The fleet expansion also includes twenty-eight A320-200s and five A321-200s. Aegean has confirmed that it does not plan to enter the widebody market, focusing instead on maximizing the capabilities of its single-aisle fleet for extended range operations.