Aegean cancels A321XLRs, faces €90–115m hit

Aegean Airlines has cancelled two Airbus A321XLRs, scrapping its planned 2026 launch of nonstop flights from Athens to New Delhi and Mumbai. (simpleflying.com) (en.about.aegeanair.com) The Greek carrier had announced the two jets in July 2025 and said they would arrive in December 2025 and January 2026. It planned five weekly Athens-New Delhi flights from March 2026 and three weekly Athens-Mumbai flights from May 2026. (en.about.aegeanair.com) (aerotime.aero) That plan unraveled after delays tied to seat-certification issues pushed the aircraft back by about seven to eight months, according to aviation trade coverage of Aegean’s March results call. Missing the 2026 summer window would have left the airline starting long, thin routes in weaker winter demand. (simpleflying.com) (aerospaceglobalnews.com) The retreat comes even as Aegean reported strong 2025 results on March 12: revenue of €1.86 billion, net profit of €147.8 million, EBITDA of €421.5 million, and 17.3 million passengers. (en.about.aegeanair.com) In that same results statement, Chief Executive Dimitris Gerogiannis said Middle East disruptions had already suspended flying equal to about 4% to 5% of Aegean’s scheduled activity. He said the halt and the jump in fuel prices were expected to hit at least the first quarter of 2026. (en.about.aegeanair.com) Chairman Eftychios Vassilakis gave the sharper fuel warning on April 22. He said Aegean expects a 2026 cost impact of €90 million to €115 million, with 60% of fuel needs hedged and the remaining 40% exposed. (protothema.gr) Vassilakis said the first-half hit alone could reach €40 million to €65 million, and a similar market in the second half would add another €50 million. He also said Greece did not face an immediate jet-fuel supply shortage over the next three to four months. (protothema.gr) Aegean is still restoring parts of its regional network. Flights from Athens to Tel Aviv resume on April 28, Heraklion-Tel Aviv on April 30, and Athens-Riyadh, Athens-Amman, Larnaca-Tel Aviv, and Rhodes-Tel Aviv on May 21. (ekathimerini.com) (gtp.gr) So Aegean’s near-term map is getting shorter, not longer: back to Tel Aviv, Riyadh and Amman in stages, but no India debut this summer. (ekathimerini.com) (simpleflying.com)