Aegean Airlines (A3, Athens) has announced that it has added eight more A321-200NX aircraft to its order book, amending it for the third time and confirming that the total number in its A320/A321neo order will reach fifty-eight.
According to the Greek carrier, its order now consists of twenty-one A320-200Ns, thirty-three A321-200NX, and four A321-200NX(LR)s. Of the 58 aircraft committed in total, 34 have already been delivered, leaving another 24 scheduled for delivery. Data from the Airbus orderbook shows that 12 (one A320-200N and eleven A321-200N) are currently listed as direct, disclosed orders placed with the manufacturer.
“The expansion of our investment plan with the additional order of eight new Airbus A321neo aircraft is essential for achieving our growth objectives and further enhancing the competitiveness of our operations. It is also clear that we have a strong preference for the larger-capacity and extended-range version of the A321neo type, which will soon represent two-thirds of our Airbus fleet,” CEO Dimitris Gerogiannis said in a statement.
Currently, five of the carrier’s twenty A320-200Ns and six of the fourteen A321-200NX are inactive. Aegean said in the annual report that in the second half of 2024, between eight and 10 aircraft were grounded at any given time due to Pratt & Whitney engine issues.
“[The groundings] restricted capacity growth particularly during the peak season, reduced the cost benefits from their use and created the need for additional leases. The compensation received by the company from the manufacturers is significant but not sufficient to offset all effects from the groundings,” the airline added.
Aegean Airlines initially placed the order in 2018 and the first deliveries started in 2020. ch-aviation fleets shows the airline’s in-house fleet currently comprises twenty-eight A320-200s, twenty A320-200Ns, four A321-200s, and fourteen A321-200NX. It also wet-leases capacity (three ATR42-600s, twelve ATR72-600s, and one DHC-8-100) from its subsidiary Olympic Air on certain domestic routes.
