Air Lease Delivers First of Four New Airbus A321XLRs to Qanot Sharq
- Joe Breitfeller
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Airbus and Air Lease have today announced the delivery of the first of four new Airbus A321XLRs on long-term lease to Uzbekistan-based airline Qanot Sharq.
On Friday (December 19, 2025), Air Lease announced the delivery of one new Airbus A321-200neo XLR aircraft to Uzbekistan based airline, Qanot Sharq. This is the first A321XLR to join the carrier’s fleet and the first of four new A321XLR aircraft to be delivered to Qanot Sharq on long-term lease. Established as Uzbekistan’s first privately owned airline, Qanot Sharq operates from multiple regional airports in Uzbekistan, providing regular and charter air services to international destinations such as Tel Aviv, Istanbul, Jeddah, Medina, and Sharm El-Sheikh in the MENA region, as well as Phuket, Nha Trang, and Phu Quoc in the APAC region, and Budapest, Prague, London, and Milan in Europe. With this delivery, Qanot Sharq becomes the first A321XLR operator in Central Asia and the CIS.
In Friday’s announcement, Air Lease’s SVP – Marketing, AJ Abedin, said,
“Air Lease is proud to be the first lessor to introduce the A321XLR to Asia with our valued partner Qanot Sharq, an airline we have supported since day one. With its strong operating performance and strategic location in Uzbekistan, I believe Qanot Sharq is uniquely positioned to unlock the full potential of this game-changing aircraft.”
Also commenting on the A321XLR delivery, Qanot Sharq Airlines’ Owner, Nosir Abdugafarov, said,
“I am delighted to further strengthen our partnership with Air Lease as we welcome our first A321XLR. This aircraft’s exceptional range and efficiency will open new nonstop routes from Uzbekistan, expand our international network, and allow us to offer our customers greater comfort and convenience while maintaining highly competitive operating economics.”
Powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines, Qanot Sharq’s new Airbus A321XLR is configured with 190 seats in a two-class layout featuring 16 full-flat Business Class and 174 Economy Class seats. It also features XL overhead bins with 60 percent more storage space compared to previous generation aircraft. Additionally, in-seat connectivity is available to all passengers while the latest lighting system enhances the overall passenger experience.
The A321XLR offers an unprecedented Xtra Long Range of up to 4,700 nautical miles, around 15 percent more range than the A321LR. The aircraft also delivers a 30 percent lower fuel burn per seat compared to previous generation competitor aircraft, as well as reduced NOx emissions and noise. To date, Airbus has won over 500 A321XLR orders.
Based in Los Angeles, California, Air Lease Corporation (NYSE: AL) is a leading global aircraft leasing company. The Air Lease team is principally involved in the purchase of commercial aircraft and leasing them to airlines worldwide with customized leasing and financing solutions. At June 30, 2025, the company had a globally diversified customer base of 108 airlines across 55 countries.
Source(s): Air Lease, Airbus
