Aircraft manufacturer, Airbus has delivered the first of 30 Airbus A321XLRs for Canada’s flag carrier Air Canada. Airbus says the “aircraft is on lease from SMBC Aviation Capital” and “the delivery marks a significant milestone in the airline’s fleet renewal strategy, enabling the carrier to bridge the gap between its narrowbody short-haul and widebody long-haul operations.”
According to Airbus, “the delivery makes Air Canada the first operator of the A321XLR in Canada. The aircraft will play a pivotal role in the airline’s network expansion, operational efficiency gains on new and existing long-haul routes, as well as providing additional range and economics required to serve secondary markets with non-stop connectivity.”
“Powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines”, Airbus says Air Canada’s “A321XLR features a sophisticated two-cabin layout designed for maximum comfort on transcontinental and transatlantic flights. The premium cabin has 14 Air Canada Signature Class full-flat seats in a 1-1 configuration, offering every passenger direct aisle access, while there are 168 Economy cabin seats.”
“The A321XLR is the next evolutionary step of the A320neo Family, responding to market needs for more range and payload, creating even more value for the airlines. It delivers an unprecedented Xtra Long Range of up to 4,700nm and 30% lower fuel burn per seat compared with previous generation competitor aircraft, as well as reduced NOx emissions and noise. The range allows for Air Canada to operate non-stop transatlantic flights from Montreal and Toronto to destinations such as Berlin, Toulouse and Edinburgh. At the end of March 2026, Airbus had secured over 500 orders for the type.” Airbus added.
Airbus stated that “Air Canada currently operates a fleet of 136 Airbus aircraft and has 61 aircraft on order, including recently ordered A350 aircraft.”