Icelandic airline Icelandair plans to replace its fleet of Boeing 767-300ER wide-body aircraft with Airbus A321XLRs over the next five years. According to the carrier’s public announcement, the decision was made to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by using more modern and economically efficient aircraft.
The move aligns with the airline’s strategy to leverage its geographic advantage. Located at the junction between Europe and North America, the arrival of the ordered narrow-body A321XLRs will support the strengthening and expansion of international routes. Iceland, as a hub and connecting point between North America and Europe, would link to more distant destinations in the east and west, competing with existing east-west routes. This would further strengthen Iceland as a tourist destination.
According to data from Airfleets.net, Icelandair currently operates three Boeing 767-300ER passenger aircraft, which are expected to remain part of the fleet until fall 2029. They will be replaced by Airbus A321XLRs, for which Icelandair recently signed a purchase agreement. These aircraft are more fuel-efficient and have a lower carbon footprint than the older-generation planes currently in use.
Despite potential passenger concerns that long-haul travel on narrow-body aircraft may be less comfortable, the decision is justified at a time when significant attention is being paid to operational efficiency, emission reduction, and fuel savings.
