Overview
Airbus SE is behind schedule on deliveries of the A321XLR to India-based InterGlobe Aviation Ltd., the operator of IndiGo, and the airline is now unlikely to receive all nine of the jets that had been expected this year. Two of the XLR aircraft have been handed over to the carrier and are currently deployed on routes to Athens and Istanbul, but several other units have had their delivery dates pushed back by several months.
Cause of delays
The planemaker has attributed the postponements to supply-chain disruptions traced to the Middle East war. According to the report, these disruptions have affected the timing of some deliveries, moving their expected arrival out by multiple months. Airbus has been engaged in discussions with IndiGo as the airline seeks more favorable delivery slots to make up for the slippage.
Aircraft and orders
The A321XLR is a single-aisle aircraft designed to allow low-cost carriers to operate longer-haul routes that traditionally required widebody jets. IndiGo has an order for 40 of these XLRs. Airbus began delivering the XLR variant to customers in 2025.
Operational note
So far, IndiGo has taken delivery of two A321XLRs, and those aircraft are being used on services to Athens and Istanbul. The carrier had aimed to receive a total of nine XLRs by the end of the year, but with the revised timelines, it appears unlikely that all nine will arrive within the calendar year.
Industry context and next steps
IndiGo is currently negotiating with Airbus to obtain more favorable delivery positions as it adjusts plans in response to the shifted schedule. The delivery delays are linked by Airbus to the wider supply-chain impacts stemming from the Middle East conflict, which the company says have affected its ability to adhere to the initial timeline for some of the A321XLR units.
Key takeaways
- Airbus is experiencing delivery delays for A321XLR jets destined for IndiGo; not all nine expected this year are likely to be delivered on schedule.
- Two A321XLRs have been delivered to IndiGo and are operating on routes to Athens and Istanbul.
- The delays are tied to supply-chain disruptions that Airbus says are a consequence of the Middle East war; IndiGo is negotiating for improved delivery slots.
Note - The information above reflects reporting that attributes delivery timing changes to supply-chain issues connected to the Middle East war and confirms IndiGo's existing order of 40 A321XLRs and that Airbus began deliveries of the model in 2025.