In the strategic decision to invest in, initially, 4 aircraft of a “specially configured”, upgraded, version of the A321neo, with the capability of longer range flights, which will be able to reach and serve non-EU markets, located mainly in the south but and south-east of Greece advances the Aegean.

According to the company, these new and specially configured aircraft will have a larger fuel capacity, providing autonomy for flights of up to 7.5 hours. At the same time, their cabin configuration will be upgraded, in order to provide a completely different, higher level of comfort for both Economy and Business Class passengers, with a correspondingly significantly smaller number of seats (less than 180), in compared to the standard version of AEGEAN’s A321neo (220 seats). Additional features of these aircraft include satellite Wi-Fi connection, entertainment screens (IFE) in every seat and a highly upgraded product for Business Class with lie flat seats.

Aegean’s goal, through the investment in the new specially configured aircraft, is to provide upgraded services to existing as well as new destinations outside the EU. and with flight durations from 4 to 7.5 hours. Specifically, their use will concern destinations in the Gulf region, which are already included in its network (e.g. Riyadh, Jeddah, Dubai), whether they are possible new additions to the region (e.g. Bahrain, Doha, Oman ) but also new potential destinations in Central Africa (e.g. Lagos, Nairobi, Addis Ababa) or in Asia with the possibility of covering destinations such as Delhi and Mumbai, in India or Almaty in Kazakhstan. These non-EU destinations with flight times between 4 and 7.5 hours are served from European capitals by carriers that typically use aircraft with cabins that ensure greater comfort and lower seat density than the “standard” cabin configuration (for the same carriers) for shorter intra-European flights. With this new investment in “special purpose” aircraft as well as the quality of Aegean crews, a highly upgraded product will be presented for the needs of these markets. These new aircraft are expected to be delivered and join the Aegean fleet in 2026 and 2027.

The CEO of Aegean, Dimitris Gerogiannis stated: “We believe in the development opportunity for the AEGEAN but also for our country in markets beyond the EU, in the Gulf region, in Central Africa and also in areas of Asia which due to our geographical position, at the south-eastern end of Europe, can be served with a longer-range version of the A321neo aircraft. We also recognize that longer flight durations require an upgraded level of comfort and overall experience for our passengers. We are proceeding with a significant investment in an initial four (4) aircraft of greater range but also of a completely new level of comfort and experience, giving our people the right tool to highlight Aegean’s values ​​in these markets as well. Our move is another important step in expanding our capabilities, both qualitatively and geographically, and we look forward to welcoming our passengers, and from these markets, on our flights in the coming years.”

It is noted that at the end of 2023, Aegean exercised the right (Option) provided for in the agreement with Airbus for the purchase of three (3) additional A321neo aircraft, as well as the conversion of five (5) initial orders of A320neo aircraft, to the larger A321neo. Following these moves, the total number of A320/321 family neo aircraft already received or ordered has reached fifty (50), of which twenty-nine (29) are now A321neo. Of the twenty-nine (29) A321neos in total, four (4) will initially concern the special version of longer distances. A total of twenty eight (28) neo aircraft have already been delivered to datewhile another twenty-two (22) are to be received in the period 2024-2028.