China’s Loong Air takes first A321neo

Loong Air (GJ, Hangzhou) took delivery of its first A321-200NX, B-323U (msn 10428), on August 13, 2021. On lease from AerCap, the jet is one of eight that will deliver through 2022.

B-323U was ferried from Hamburg Finkenwerder via Novosibirsk to Hangzhou. Following the delivery to China, it was deployed on a test flight to Wenzhou and back to Hangzhou on August 13, and then to Xining on August 16, AirNav Radarbox ADS-B data shows. According to the ch-aviation schedules module, the carrier plans to debut the type’s operations on August 18, initially deploying it on a single flight from Hangzhou to Urumqi (via Yinchuan). As of August 20, Loong Air will begin deploying the A321neo on its daily services to Beijing Capital and Guangzhou.

Loong Air has outfitted its A321neo for up to 210 passengers, including eight in business class and 202 in economy.

While Loong Air disclosed plans to add the A321neo earlier this year, it did not reveal any further details. The carrier’s present fleet comprises twenty-eight A320-200s and twenty-seven A320-200Ns, as well as three B737-300(F)s.

Under its aims for China’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), Loong Air says it will gradually introduce a “two-cabin” layout as well as medium and long-range-capable aircraft with more than 210 seats. It aims to gradually open up its first international flights to Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, West Asia, Oceania, and even North America and Europe.