Icelandair has taken delivery of a long-range Airbus A321LR, the first model from the airframer in the carrier’s fleet.
The twinjet – powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines – is one of several to be leased from SMBC Aviation Capital. Three will arrive before summer next year.
Icelandair is taking A321LRs to serve as bridge capacity before the arrival of A321XLRs later in the decade.
The carrier has 13 XLRs on order.
Its initial A321LR is configured with 187 seats in two classes, including 22 seats in the business cabin.
The aircraft also features Panasonic’s Astrova in-flight entertainment system, for which Icelandair is the launch customer.
“Addition of the Airbus aircraft to our fleet will unleash great opportunities in the coming years – not only for Icelandair but also for Iceland as a tourist destination and a connecting hub between Europe, North America, and beyond,” says Icelandair chief Bogi Nils Bogason.
Icelandair is introducing the A321LR to replace its Boeing 757-200 fleet. The A321LR’s range, says the carrier, is sufficient to reach all destinations on its network previously served by 757s.
But it expects the A321LR will be 30% more fuel efficient than the older twinjet.
