Icelandair Accelerates Fleet Renewal with Six New Airbus A320neo Leases
Icelandair is accelerating its fleet renewal plans by leasing six Airbus A320neo aircraft. The new lease agreements will expand the carrier's growing Airbus presence and advance its long-term strategy to phase out older Boeing models.
The deliveries of the A320neos are scheduled to begin in 2027, sourced from lessors rather than a direct manufacturer order. This approach can provide earlier delivery slots in a crowded single-aisle market.
Icelandair's fleet already includes a growing number of Airbus A321LR jets, introduced over the 2024 to 2025 winter season as part of a broader transition away from Boeing 757s. The six A320neos are expected to operate alongside both the A321LRs and the airline's existing Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.
The new leases add further scale to Icelandair's Airbus footprint, which is positioning itself for a substantially larger Airbus narrowbody sub-fleet than initially outlined. This move aligns with the airline's previously published climate and efficiency goals, highlighting fleet renewal as a key lever to achieve meaningful reductions in fuel burn and emissions per seat.