IndiGo Leads Indian Aviation into New Era with First A321XLR
IndiGo, India’s largest carrier, has made history by taking delivery of the country’s first Airbus A321XLR. This marks the dawn of a new era of long-haul connectivity for Indian aviation.
The ultra-long-range narrowbody aircraft landed in Delhi on January 7, 2026, signifying a major milestone for both IndiGo and the Indian aviation industry. This A321XLR is the first of 69 ordered by the low-cost carrier, contributing to a total Airbus order book that is nearing 1,000 aircraft.
IndiGo will introduce the aircraft on new nonstop services, connecting Mumbai to Athens starting January 23, 2026, and Delhi to Athens from January 24, 2026. The airline will operate these flights three times weekly on both routes. These flights will span approximately 3,100-3,200 miles with flight durations of seven to eight hours.
“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, CEO of IndiGo. The aircraft is equipped with 12 business class seats in a 2×2 configuration with a 44-inch pitch, and 183 economy seats, all featuring advanced RECARO seating designed for long-duration flights.
The A321XLR’s impressive range of 4,700 nautical miles opens up new possibilities for IndiGo to reach destinations across Europe, East Asia, and Africa. These destinations were previously inaccessible with single-aisle aircraft. Nine additional A321XLRs are expected to be delivered in 2026, with subsequent aircraft to be deployed on routes to Istanbul, Bali, and new long-haul destinations across Europe and East Asia.
Source: www.aerotime.aero