IndiGo inducts India’s first Airbus A321XLR aircraft
The Airbus A321XLR is a next-generation narrow-body aircraft with a range of up to 8,700 kilometres and enhanced fuel efficiency
| Photo Credit:
cueapi
Airline major IndiGo on Wednesday inducted its first Airbus A321XLR aircraft into its fleet.
Accordingly, the long-range variant of the Airbus A321neo arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi, on Wednesday morning.
The aircraft will be deployed on the airline’s upcoming non-stop services connecting Mumbai to Athens from January 23, 2026, and Delhi to Athens from January 24, 2026, operating thrice weekly on both routes.
The Airbus A321XLR is a next-generation narrow-body aircraft with a range of up to 8,700 kilometres and enhanced fuel efficiency.
Notably, the aircraft type is expected to enable IndiGo to serve longer international routes from India while maintaining high cost efficiency.
The aircraft features a dual-class configuration offering 12 IndiGoStretch and 183 economy class seats.
As per IndiGo, of a total firm order of 40 A321XLR aircraft, nine are expected to be delivered in calendar year 2026.
Besides its first international induction to operate non-stop services to Athens, subsequent aircraft will be deployed on existing routes such as Istanbul, Turkiye, and Denpasar, Bali.
Thereafter, incoming deliveries will enable IndiGo to expand to new long-haul routes in Europe and East Asia.
“IndiGo is honoured to be the first Indian airline to welcome the Airbus A321XLR into its fleet—an important milestone as we prepare to redefine long-haul travel for India,” said Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo.
“The advanced capabilities of this aircraft enable us to reach newer regions across the globe and further strengthen India’s position as a key player in international aviation.”
Published on January 7, 2026
