Dublin-headquartered aircraft lessor AerCap has delivered the first of three Airbus A321neo aircraft to Azerbaijan Airlines, marking the introduction of the narrowbody type into the Azerbaijani carrier's fleet at a handover ceremony at the Airbus Delivery Centre in Hamburg.

According to AerCap, the delivery forms part of a broader programme agreed in 2024 comprising three A321neo and three A320neo aircraft. The first two A320neos were delivered earlier in 2026, with the remaining aircraft in the programme scheduled for delivery through November 2026.

Peter Anderson, chief commercial officer of AerCap, said the lessor was pleased to be the first to introduce the A321neo to Azerbaijan Airlines. "The addition of these new, fuel-efficient aircraft will enhance AZAL's operational capabilities, support its network expansion, and deliver an improved passenger experience," he said.

Jamil Manizade, chief commercial officer of Azerbaijan Airlines, said the arrival of the first A321neo represented a significant step in the carrier's long-term fleet modernisation strategy. "As we continue investing in next-generation aircraft, we are strengthening our operational capabilities, improving fuel efficiency, and creating new opportunities for sustainable network growth," he said, adding that the deliveries supported the airline's ambition to build a modern, passenger-focused fleet to meet the evolving needs of Azerbaijan's aviation sector.

The Airbus A321neo is the largest member of the A320neo family and offers operators a range of up to approximately 7,400 kilometres in standard configuration, making it well-suited to medium and long thin-route operations. Its CFM LEAP or Pratt and Whitney GTF powerplants deliver fuel consumption improvements of up to 20% compared with previous-generation A321ceo aircraft, a factor of growing importance to carriers managing rising fuel costs across competitive short and medium-haul networks.

AerCap is the world's largest aircraft lessor by fleet size, serving approximately 300 customers globally with a comprehensive range of narrowbody, widebody and turboprop aircraft. The company is headquartered in Dublin with additional offices in Shannon, Singapore, London, Dubai, Shanghai and Miami, among other locations.

Ireland's dominance of the global aircraft leasing sector is underlined by AerCap's scale, with the Dublin-based lessor's fleet representing a significant share of the total global leased commercial aircraft market.

Access the full delivery announcement and fleet programme details in the original announcement.