Atlantic Airways has placed a firm order for two additional Airbus A320neo aircraft as the Faroe Islands' flag carrier prepares to replace its remaining older-generation A320s. The agreement, announced on October 27, brings the airline's outstanding commitments for the type to four aircraft.
The carrier currently operates four Airbus jets, split evenly between the A320ceo and A320neo. According to fleet records, its two older aircraft, registered OY-RCJ and OY-RCM, were built in 2016, while the A320neos, OY-RCK and OY-RCL, date from 2019 and 2020.
Atlantic Airways already had two A320neos on order before the latest agreement. The aircraft were ordered directly from Airbus in 2019 and, after changes to their original delivery schedule, are now expected in 2028 and 2029, according to the airline's 2025 annual report.
The two aircraft announced this week are additional to that order, meaning Atlantic Airways now has four A320neos on order. Airbus and the airline did not disclose delivery dates for the latest pair.
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That does not necessarily mean the carrier will eventually operate six A320neos. Its two current A320neos were obtained under long-term leases, and neither Atlantic Airways nor Airbus has said whether they will remain in the fleet when the four purchased aircraft arrive. The airline has only stated its intention to operate an all-A320neo fleet in the near future.
"Our ambition is to operate an exclusively A320neo aircraft fleet in the near future, and this agreement marks a significant step towards achieving that goal," said Niels Mortensen, chairman of Atlantic Airways.
The carrier's A320neos are powered by CFM International LEAP-1A engines. Atlantic Airways' 2025 annual report also shows that the newer aircraft have brought significant maintenance expenses: three of the four LEAP engines in its current fleet required earlier-than-expected overhauls, with work on two of them contributing approximately DKK 140 million in costs during 2025.
Connecting the Faroe Islands
Founded in 1987, Atlantic Airways began flying in March 1988 with a service between Vágar Airport and Copenhagen. The government-owned airline provides essential air connections for the Faroe Islands, a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark located in the North Atlantic between Scotland, Iceland and Norway.
From its base at Vágar, the carrier operates scheduled flights to destinations in Denmark and elsewhere in Europe, including routes serving business travelers, residents and tourists. Its network changes seasonally, with additional leisure services and charter operations.
For many years, Atlantic Airways relied on British Aerospace BAe 146 and Avro RJ regional jets, which were well suited to Vágar's relatively short runway and challenging operating environment. The extension of the airport's runway in 2011 allowed the airline to introduce larger Airbus aircraft, beginning with the A319 in 2012.
The carrier subsequently moved toward the A320 family, taking delivery of its first A320neo in July 2019 and a second in 2020.
In addition to its four Airbus aircraft, Atlantic Airways operates two Leonardo AW139 helicopters, which provide inter-island transportation and support search-and-rescue and emergency medical operations.
The airline carried nearly 380,000 scheduled passengers in 2025, a record for the company. Its fleet renewal program comes as the Faroe Islands continue to develop tourism while maintaining air links that are particularly important for the archipelago's population.
