Day 2 Singapore Airshow: Tigerair Taiwan Adds A321neos to the Fleet
•February 4, 2026
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Why It Matters
The order expands Tigerair Taiwan’s capacity on key regional routes and reinforces Airbus’s foothold in the fast‑growing Asian low‑cost carrier market, while highlighting the industry’s shift toward more fuel‑efficient fleets.
Key Takeaways
- •Tigerair Taiwan orders four Airbus A321neo aircraft.
- •Expands capacity to 232 seats per aircraft.
- •Complements existing fleet of A320ceo and A320neo.
- •Supports ESG targets with fuel‑efficient jets.
- •Highlights Airbus' first order at Singapore Airshow.
Pulse Analysis
The addition of the A321neo to Tigerair Taiwan’s roster reflects a broader trend among low‑cost carriers to upscale capacity without sacrificing cost efficiency. The A321neo’s 232‑seat configuration enables the airline to serve its high‑traffic “golden routes” to Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand and Macau with a lower cost per seat, a critical metric for profitability in the price‑sensitive LCC segment. By standardising on Airbus narrow‑body platforms, Tigerair can streamline pilot training, maintenance, and parts inventory, further driving operational savings.
Airbus benefits from the deal by securing a foothold in a market traditionally dominated by Boeing’s 737 family. The order, though modest in size, signals confidence in the A321neo’s performance and its suitability for densely populated Asian corridors. As regional demand rebounds post‑pandemic, carriers are prioritising aircraft that deliver up to 20% fuel burn reduction, aligning with both commercial imperatives and ESG commitments. Tigerair’s emphasis on a younger, greener fleet resonates with investors and regulators increasingly focused on sustainability metrics.
The surrounding engine agreements underscore the strategic importance of reliable powerplant supply chains. While Tigerair’s order does not specify engine choice, the concurrent Pratt & Whitney GTF contracts with Vietjet and Rolls‑Royce TotalCare deal with China Airlines illustrate the competitive dynamics among engine manufacturers vying for market share in Asia. These partnerships ensure long‑term support and performance guarantees, mitigating risks of grounding and maintenance delays that have plagued some operators. Collectively, the aircraft and engine deals highlight a shift toward integrated, fuel‑efficient solutions that will shape the region’s aviation landscape for the next decade.
Day 2 Singapore Airshow: Tigerair Taiwan adds A321neos to the fleet
Day 2 of the Singapore Airshow saw the first aircraft order for Airbus, albeit a small one. Tigerair Taiwan signed its first direct order with the OEM for four A321neos that will complement its existing Airbus fleet.
Tigerair Taiwan currently operates nine A320ceos and eight A320neos, all leased from various lessors. The first A320neo joined the low-cost carrier in March 2021, and the last in July 2025. All come with a 180 single-class cabin. No details were given about the delivery schedule.
The A321neo allows TigerAir Taiwan to upgauge the fleet to 232 seats, which grows capacity on what it refers to as its “golden routes”. The airline operates from Taiwan to 26 destinations in Korea, Japan, Macau, Vietnam and Thailand.
“By serving more passengers across more destinations with a lower cost per seat, this investment reinforces our position as Taiwan’s leading LCC. Furthermore, it advances our journey toward a younger, more fuel-efficient fleet that meets both our commercial and ESG targets”, Tigerair’s chairwoman Joyce Huang is quoted in an Airbus media release.
Since its launch in 2014, Tigerair used to be a 90/10 joint venture with China Airlines Group and Tiger Airways Holdings, but China Airlines bought the remaining shares to make it a 100 percent subsidiary.
Vietjet Air
On the engine side, Pratt & Whitney and Vietjet Air put signatures to paper for 44 Geared Turbofan engines. They will power 24 A321neos and 20 A321XLRs in Vietjet’s backlog, with deliveries starting in July. The deal comes with 12-year EngineWise customer support.
Vietjet Air announced an MoU for 100 A321neos at last year’s Paris Airshow and finalised the deal in November, which brought total orders to 280 A321neos. With the signing of the P&W order, it now has 137 GTF-powered aircraft on order. This leaves a question mark over the powerplants for the remaining aircraft in the backlog. All of Vietjet’s 43 A321neos in the fleet have P&W engines, but 13 of them are grounded because of maintenance on the PW1100G-JM engines to replace parts with ones that are more durable.
“The GTF engine is powering our growth with industry-leading operating economics and fuel efficiency of up to 20 percent. We continue to trust in the long-term, comprehensive and responsible partnership with Pratt & Whitney”, said Vietjet Managing Director Nguyen Thanh Son in a media statement.
In another engine deal, Rolls-Royce signed a TotalCare agreement with China Airlines for 36 XWB engines. These include 30 XWB-97s on the Airbus A350-1000 and six XWB-84s on the A350-900.
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