Virgin America took delivery of the Airbus A321neo aircraft on April 20, powered by CFM International’s advanced LEAP-1A engines. The San Francisco-based airline is the first in the world to take delivery of this aircraft type. “We have been with Virgin America from the beginning and we are excited to launch this new chapter in that relationship,” said Gaël Méheust, president and CEO of CFM International. “The LEAP-1A has done extremely well in its first months of commercial service. It is proving unprecedented levels of fuel efficiency and environmental responsibility while maintaining the level of reliability Virgin America has come to expect from CFM. We think they will be very pleased with all our engine has to offer.” Virgin America currently operates a fleet of 63 Airbus A320 family aircraft comprised of A319ceo and A320ceo aircraft powered by CFM’s CFM56-5B engines. The new A321neo will become the largest aircraft in Virgin America’s fleet, featuring 185 seats – a 24% higher capacity at same comfort levels than its current A320s. The aircraft is expected to enter service on May 31, 2017 with an inaugural flight from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
AviTrader sponsorship ad
Virgin America takes delivery of first LEAP-1A-powered A321neo
Share this Article
Friday April 24, 2026
Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, is investing US$100 million in its Rzeszów facility in Poland to expand production capacity, introduce advanced manufacturing capabilities and meet rising global demand for its commercial and military engines, including t... Read More »
Friday April 24, 2026
Barfield, a subsidiary of Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M) in the Americas, has signed a three-year component repair and overhaul agreement with AerFin, an aviation asset specialist that buys, sells, leases and repairs ... Read More »
Friday April 24, 2026
At MRO Americas, Joramco, the Amman-based aircraft MRO provider and engineering arm of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), announced a one-year agreement with AeroParts-AI to support aircraft parts sourcing. Following internal testing, Joramco validated AeroPart... Read More »
Friday April 24, 2026
SkyWorks Holdings has completed transactions and new engagements across its advisory and asset management platform during Q1 2026. The company advised a North American network carrier on the buyback of two A350-900 aircraft currently on lease. It also supporte... Read More »
Friday April 24, 2026
Aircalin, also known as Air Calédonie International, the flag carrier of New Caledonia, has successfully implemented AMOS to support the upcoming induction of its Airbus A350 fleet and the continued management of its existing Airbus A320 and A330 aircraft. Th... Read More »
Friday April 24, 2026
AerFin has entered into a new partnership with National Air Cargo to support the next phase of its aircraft teardown operations, further strengthening the movement of materials between Marana and Miami. The agreement focuses on delivering a more efficient, int... Read More »
Thursday April 23, 2026
CFM International and International Airlines Group (IAG) have signed an agreement granting a CFM Premier MRO licence for both LEAP-1A and LEAP-1B engines, strengthening support for one of the industry’s fastest-growing engine families. The deal positions Ibe... Read More »
Thursday April 23, 2026
Magellan Aviation Group (Magellan), in partnership with Worldstar Aviation (Worldstar), has announced the acquisition of three Boeing 737-800 aircraft currently on lease to Eastar Jet. The transaction enables the airline to secure additional capacity for futur... Read More »
Thursday April 23, 2026
Ontic, the OEM and MRO provider for civil and military aircraft, has launched a new teardown procurement initiative aimed at addressing one of the sector’s most persistent challenges: the availability of hard-to-source components for mature platforms. The pr... Read More »
Thursday April 23, 2026
Boeing Distribution and Honeywell Sensing Solutions have entered into a global distribution agreement aimed at improving aftermarket access to Honeywell’s aerospace and defence sensing and switching products. Under the terms of the deal, Boeing Distribution ... Read More »
Thursday April 23, 2026
Airbus has completed the manufacture and assembly of the first main deck cargo door for its A350F freighter at its Illescas facility in Spain, marking a significant step forward in the programme’s development. The component has now been delivered to the fina... Read More »
Thursday April 23, 2026
Embraer has signed a spare parts inventory support agreement with Jazz Aviation, the primary operator of Air Canada Express, covering all E-Jets in the carrier’s fleet. Jazz, which currently operates 25 E175 aircraft, becomes the first customer in Canada to ... Read More »
Thursday April 23, 2026
Fokker Services Group has entered into a commercial agreement with KGB Aviation Solutions to integrate the SkyLog-25 flight data and cockpit voice recorder across multiple aircraft platforms. The agreement enables Fokker Services Group to offer a certified, ne... Read More »
Wednesday April 22, 2026
L2 Aviation has acquired Advance Aero, a precision machining and sheet metal fabrication specialist based in Mooresville, Indiana, in a move to strengthen its vertical integration and manufacturing capabilities. The deal forms part of L2 Aviation’s long-term... Read More »
Wednesday April 22, 2026
Veryon, a provider of aviation software and information services, has tapped Peter Bunce as a Board Advisor, bringing significant industry expertise to the company at a key stage in its development. Bunce adds deep aviation market knowledge, further strengthen... Read More »
Wednesday April 22, 2026
Airbus has signed an agreement with JetBlue to upgrade cockpit display systems across part of the airline’s A320 fleet. The deal, announced at MRO Americas, forms part of JetBlue’s broader fleet modernisation and operational strategy. The contract covers t... Read More »
Wednesday April 22, 2026
Delta TechOps and LATAM Airlines Brasil have launched a first-of-its-kind A320 component repair collaboration, aimed at supporting Delta’s fleet while also addressing growing demand from third-party airline customers. The agreement strengthens Delta TechOps... Read More »
Wednesday April 22, 2026
Analysis from IBA, the aviation intelligence and advisory company, shows that jet fuel prices remain around 54% above pre-conflict levels (as of April 8), despite easing from a peak of US$114 per barrel on April 8, to approximately US$94 on April 9, following ... Read More »
Wednesday April 22, 2026
At AERO Friedrichshafen in Germany, Textron Aviation has announced a new purchase agreement with European private jet operator LUMINAIR for nine Cessna Citation Latitude aircraft, signalling a strategic fleet expansion to meet rising demand. The midsize Citati... Read More »
Wednesday April 22, 2026
RECARO Aircraft Seating (RECARO) and Air India have launched a major retrofit programme for the airline’s Boeing 787-8 fleet, aimed at enhancing cabin comfort and aligning onboard products with its newer aircraft. Under the initiative, RECARO will install it... Read More »
Aviation News Categories
2026 MEDIA KIT
Tamar Jorssen
tamar.jorssen@avitrader.com
Phone: +1 (778) 213 8543
Malte Tamm
malte.tamm@avitrader.com
Phone: +49 (0)162 8263049