Peach Aviation signed an agreement with Airbus on Tuesday at the Farnborough Airshow to purchase two A321LRs, which will make the Japanese low-cost carrier (LCC) the first in the region to operate the long-range aircraft. The order represents a revision of a purchase agreement signed in 2016 for 10 A321neos, with two of the 10 orders now being upgraded to the LR version. Deliveries of these neos and LRs are scheduled to commence in 2020 (both LRs are expected that year), coinciding with the planned launch of Peach’s mid-range LCC service, and continue through 2022.

With a range of 7,400 km (4,600 nm), the A321LR is the world’s longest-range single-aisle airliner, according to Airbus, and will give Peach the capability of serving all of Asia.

“By taking on the challenge of establishing a medium-haul LCC business in Japan, we will continue to play a leading role in shaping the history of LCCs in Japan and Northeast Asia,” said Shinichi Inoue, managing director and CEO of Peach. “The A321LR will play a key role as Peach opens up a completely new chapter of mid-range LCC service in Japan.” 

Eric Schulz, chief commercial officer at Airbus (Outside Exhibition 13, 25, K8), said that with the introduction of the A321LR, “We are well positioned to take care of that mid-range market.”

By expanding its route range, Peach noted it will also be supporting the Japanese government’s goal of having 40 million foreign visitors in 2020 and 60 million in 2030. No price for the A321LR has been set; list price for the A321neo is $129.5 million.