AEGEAN Invests in Upgraded Aircraft to Serve Non-EU Markets
Aiming to reach further and best serve non-EU markets, either in the Gulf area, Africa or in regions of Asia, AEGEAN is investing in new aircraft with extended range capabilities and upgraded cabin.
According to an announcement, the Greek airline company will initially add four specially configured new A321neo aircraft to its fleet that will have additional fuel tanks, providing operational capability for flights up to 7.5 hours.
The product will be used to provide services in existing and potentially new non-EU destinations with a minimum flight time of four hours. Indicatively, destinations in the Gulf, such as currently served (Riyadh, Jeddah, Dubai) or potential new (such as Bahrein, Doha, Oman), but also in Central Africa (such as Lagos, Addis Ababa, Nairobi) and in Asia with the potential to serve routes such as Delhi or Mumbai in India or Almati in Kazakhstan.
“We are making a significant investment in the extended range and a totally new level of comfort for an initial four aircraft sub-fleet to give our crews the right tool to best represent AEGEAN values for these longer flight markets,” AEGEAN CEO Dimitris Gerogiannis said.
The company’s CEO said the investment is “one more big step” towards growing the company’s reach and capabilities.
“We recognize the necessity of a cabin with a significantly higher comfort and experience features to effectively represent AEGEAN’s service values, for our passengers in these markets,” Gerogiannis said.
The cabin configuration of the specially configured new A321neo aircraft will have a higher level of comfort for both Economy and Business Class passengers and a seat count which will be reduced from 220 in AEGEAN’s standard A321neo version, to less than 180 seats.
Additional features will also include satellite connectivity, in-flight entertainment (IFE screens) in every seat and most importantly a premium lie-flat seat Business Class product.
“We look forward to welcoming our passengers from these markets to this new level of experience with us in the years to come,” Gerogiannis added.
Under its purchase agreement with Airbus, AEGEAN to date has received 28 Airbus 320/321 neo aircraft. Further 22 are to be received during the 2024-2028 period.
This is a big milestone: Aegean moving into longer haul. If this works out and Aegean make money on longer haul then it will be in a position to acquire wide bodies to launch long haul to New York and Montreal/Toronto