IndiGo takes delivery of its first Airbus A321XLR

IndiGo, the India-based low-cost carrier that has transformed its services to also offer business class and long-haul services, has welcomed its first Airbus A321XLR, which was also the country’s first A321XLR.

On January 7, 2026, IndiGo ferried its first A321XLR, registered as VT-NLA, from Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport (AUH) to Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), with the A321XLR touching down at DEL at 13:32 local time (UTC +5:30).

The airframe arrived at AUH following an almost six-hour flight from Hamburg Finkenwerder Airport (XFW), where it was assembled. It departed XFW at 18:32 local time (UTC +1) on January 6, Flightradar24 records showed.

IndiGo’s first A321XLR arrived just weeks before its scheduled start of direct flights to Athens Airport (ATH). Cirium’s Diio Mi showed that on January 23, the airline will deploy its A321XLR on flights from Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) to ATH, and on January 24, it will connect DEL with ATH.

The carrier said that its A321XLR aircraft will have 12 business class seats, marketed as ‘IndiGoStretch,’ and 183 economy class seats, totaling 195. Both cabins have “thoughtfully designed RECARO seating, delivering a comfortable and pleasant onboard experience, especially suited for long-distance journeys.” Planespotters.net showed that VT-NLA is powered by two CFM International LEAP-1A engines.

IndiGo introduced the IndiGoStretch product into commercial service on flights between DEL and BOM in November 2024. In August 2024, it described its business class as “a coupe-style, two-seat wide bay” that provides “spacious pitch” and width, enabling customers to sit back, relax, and enjoy their flights.

In comparison, out of all the current A321XLR operators, which include Aer Lingus, American Airlines, Iberia, Qantas, Qanot Sharq, and Wizz Air, only Qantas and Wizz Air have more seats on their aircraft of the type.

While IndiGo’s A321XLRs seat up to 195 passengers, Qantas’ can welcome up to 197 or 200 travelers, while Wizz Air’s A321XLRs have 239 all-economy class seats. Iberia, which configured its A321XLR cabins with 14 business and 168 economy class seats, previously outlined that the configuration limits its long-range narrowbodies to have a range of up to 7,500 kilometers (4,049 nautical miles), or around 1,200 km (647.9 NM) less than Airbus’ advertised range of the type.

For IndiGo, another range limitation will be the unavailability of Pakistan’s airspace to all Indian airlines, with the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) extending the ban to January 23, 2026, according to a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) published by the PAA.

Iberia takes delivery of its seventh Airbus A321XLR

While it remains to be seen when the seventh A321XLR will enter service, Iberia is launching a new route with the type on January 19.

The Engine CowlRytis Beresnevicius

Airbus should deliver nine A321XLRs in 2026, IndiGo stated, with further aircraft of the type being deployed on flights to Istanbul Airport (IST) and Denpasar International Airport (DPS), the primary gateway of Bali, Indonesia.

According to Pieter Elbers, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IndiGo, the airline was “honored” to welcome the aircraft, which, in addition to being its first A321XLR, was India’s first aircraft of the type.

The delivery was an “important milestone as we prepare to redefine long-haul travel for India,” with the A321XLR’s range capabilities enabling IndiGo to reach “newer regions across the globe and further strengthen India’s position as a key player in international aviation.”

In a statement on December 31, 2025, reflecting on the past year and its upcoming milestones, IndiGo reiterated that in 2026, it is set not only to launch flights to ATH and continue expanding its international network, but also to densify its domestic network.

The A321XLR will unlock “new medium-to-long-haul markets from the country,” IndiGo added.

In addition to the A321XLRs enabling new medium and long-haul routes, IndiGo has been leasing Boeing 787-9s from Norse Atlantic Airways, operating flights from BOM to four European destinations, and from DEL to Manchester Airport (MAN) in January, per Cirium’s Diio Mi.

The Indian airline has also placed firm orders for up to 60 A350-900 aircraft, with the delivery dates of the type beginning in 2027.

IndiGo orders 30 more Airbus A350-900 aircraft

IndiGo already has 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft on order.

The Engine CowlRytis Beresnevicius