The strategic decision to invest in four, to start with, aircrafts of a "specially configured" upgraded version of the A321neo, with the ability for longer-range flights, capable of reaching and serving markets outside the EU, mainly located in south and south-eastern Greece, was announced by Aegean.

These new aircraft are expected to be delivered and incorporated into the company's fleet by 2026 and 2027.

According to a press release, Aegean's goal, through the investment in the new specially configured aircraft, is to provide upgraded services to existing as well as new destinations outside the EU, with flight durations ranging from 4 to 7.5 hours. Specifically, their use will cover destinations in the Gulf region, already included in its network (e.g., Riyadh, Jeddah, Dubai), as well as possible new additions in the region (e.g., Bahrain, Doha, Oman), and new potential destinations in Central Africa (e.g., Lagos, Nairobi, Addis Ababa) or in Asia with the ability to cover destinations such as Delhi and Mumbai, in India, or Almaty in Kazakhstan.

Aegean's CEO, Dimitris Gerogiannis, mentioned that "development opportunities for Aegean, and for us, in markets beyond the EU, like the Gulf region, Central Africa, and areas of Asia that, due to our geographical position, at the south-eastern edge of Europe, can be served with a longer-range version of the A321neo aircraft, indicating that this move is another significant step for expanding our capabilities, both qualitatively and in geographical coverage, and we look forward to welcoming our passengers, including those from these markets, on our flights in the coming years."