International Airlines Group is moving ahead with a dual-manufacturer narrowbody strategy, exercising options for both Airbus A320neo-family jets and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft as it refreshes and expands its short-haul fleet.
On the Airbus side, IAG has steadily converted existing options into firm orders for A320neo and A321neo aircraft, building on an initial neo-family commitment dating back to 2013. Recent conversions include tranches of A320neos and A321neos, alongside an additional order for 25 A320neo-family aircraft and options for a further 50. Deliveries of these latest-generation Airbus single-aisles are scheduled between 2025 and 2028, with the group indicating they will primarily replace older A320ceo-family jets.
In parallel, IAG has firmed up its interest in the Boeing 737 MAX. The group initially ordered 50 aircraft split between the high-density 737 MAX 8-200 and the stretched 737 MAX 10, with options for up to 100 more. It has since exercised options for additional 737 MAX jets, taking the firm total to 60, with deliveries running from 2023 into the late 2020s. According to IAG disclosures, the 50-strong initial allocation of MAX aircraft has been designated for Vueling, which is set to begin transitioning from an all-Airbus narrowbody fleet to the Boeing type from late 2026.
Together, the exercised Airbus and Boeing options give IAG flexibility in fleet planning across its brands, including British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling, and LEVEL, while phasing out older short-haul aircraft in favor of more fuel-efficient models.