On November 19, 2024 marked a significant moment for Icelandair with the initial test flight of its first A-321LR, registration TF-IAA, at Hamburg-Finkenwerder Airport, located in the Airbus assembly complex. This initial test in the Icelandair livery is a crucial part of the testing process, before the official delivery of the aircraft to the company, which will take place in the coming weeks. The news was announced yesterday on social media by the flag carrier of Iceland.

The event represents a turning point for Icelandair, historically linked to Boeing, as it introduces aircraft from European rival Airbus into its fleet for the first time. This transition phase follows the grounding of its B-757 fleet last October, as part of a fleet upgrade plan aimed at effectively continuing its operations in the mid-Atlantic.

After evaluating the Boeing B-737 MAX, the airline announced in July 2023 a shift towards Airbus with a firm order for 13 A-321XLR aircraft, in addition to the intention to lease four A-321LR (see AVIONEWS). With this new setup, the company plans to operate a mixed fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft until at least 2030, thus maintaining versatility in managing both its transatlantic and European network.

This is the post with which the airline enthusiastically announced the flight: "Ready for take-off! Icelandair's very first Airbus A-321LR has completed its initial test flight in Hamburg and we will welcome it to the skies of Iceland in a few weeks. It's the start of a new era for us -stay tuned for more updates on our newest member of the fleet".