Four Airlines Eye Route Opportunities With New Technology Aircraft Arrivals

RIMINI, Italy—Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) is considering taking more Airbus A321LRs, while Aegean Airlines, Icelandair and TUI are preparing to receive first-of-a-kind narrowbodies, opening up new possibilities for route development.

Speaking on a panel at Routes Europe in Rimini, all four operators welcomed the flexibility of latest generation narrowbodies, namely the Airbus A321LRs, XLRs and Boeing 737-10. SAS already operates three A321LRs and is taking its first Embraer E2s.

“That’s a network planner’s dream, to be able to play with different [aircraft] sizes,” SAS head of network international Gonzalo Pernas said.

Pernas said the A321LRs have been a “game changer,” impacting the minimum scale needed to consider a destination. “When we look at the long-term scenarios, there is many more uses that we can think of, and we are exploring possibilities for getting more of that type,” he said.

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SAS will use its incoming E2s on high frequency domestic markets, which are served with up to 16 daily flights. Demand has “dramatically changed” and commuter traffic has “almost disappeared,” meaning 180-seat aircraft are no longer viable.

This means SAS is right-sizing down from larger narrowbodies to E2s maintain frequencies. SAS will also use the E2s to operate banks of feeder flights into its developing Copenhagen hub, which would not work with larger aircraft.

Likewise, TUI is anticipating its first MAX 10s in 2027. TUI communications director Aage Dünhaupt said the tour operator will be among the first European MAX 10 operators. TUI phased out its 757s nearly two years ago, and Dünhaupt said this has left a gap in the fleet.

“We have decided we will put our first MAX 10s—nearly all [of them]—into Amsterdam, because Amsterdam is restricted,” Dünhaupt said. “It’s more the size than the range, but at the moment I don’t foresee we need a longer range.”

TUI also has 20 737 MAXs arriving this year, after receiving no deliveries in 2025. TUI has 55 MAXs in service, representing half its narrowbody fleet.

Meanwhile, Icelandair is accelerating the phase out of its 757s and 767s. This was originally planned for the end of summer 2027, but it has been brought forward to winter 2026 in response to higher fuel prices.

Icelandair director of network planning and scheduling Snorri Tomasson said the first A321XLRs will arrive at the end of the decade and these will “most likely” be deployed on North American routes that are not viable with widebodies. Icelandair already has six LRs, and it is reworking its banks of flights to adjust for the LRs and XLRs, adding more European feed.

Finally, Aegean Airlines will be taking its first LRs in the second quarter of 2027. Aegean director of network planning and airline partnerships Ioannis Rasoglou said the A321LRs will be used to serve India next year, which was previously out of reach. Sub-Saharan Africa will also come within range.

Aegean’s LRs will also open thinner routes to winter frequencies. Aegean is already adding significant low-season capacity.