Air Canada Prepares Network Growth with the Delivery of Their First Airbus A321XLR

Air Canada’s network planning team has been poring over data to determine the best way to deploy their first game-changing Airbus A321XLR, which will be delivered in 2026.

Air Canada Airbus A321XLR Routes and Possible New Destinations - Courtesy Air Canada

On Wednesday (October 8, 2025), Air Canada announced that after an extensive evaluation by their network planning team, they have decided on the inaugural routes that will be served with their first Airbus A321XLR.  As announced last month, the aircraft will be deployed from Montréal to Palma de Mallorca from June 2026, and will also serve destinations such as Toulouse, Dublin and Edinburgh.  The Airbus A321XLR will be the launch platform for many of the new features that customers will see across the Air Canada fleet, including a new look and feel in the cabin.

Speaking on the upcoming A321XLR delivery, Air Canada’s Vice President of Network Planning – North America and Scheduling, Alexandre Lefevre, said in part,

“Next year we going to finally get our hands on that new aircraft. And it’s going to open up a range of new possibilities, new routes, new markets for Air Canada.  We’re really excited and it’s a big deal for us that will herald a new era of international growth for Air Canada.  We’re going to see them starting in 2026 and, as any new aircraft, we’re going to have some testing and certification going on in the early months of 2026. But you can expect them to be in full commercial service by next summer.

“When you look at opening new routes, you need to look at the economics.  When you’ve got a tool like the A321XLR that’s completely different from the tools you’ve got in your toolbox today, that opens up new markets that today you cannot viably and profitably open.  The A321XLR will be used to replace some older aircraft, but our strategy is to use it for growth, especially international growth.  With the size, range and the capabilities of this aircraft, we're going to be able to, first and foremost, fly new international markets and maintain a presence year-round when demand is not sufficient to operate the route profitably with a larger aircraft.

“For us, the A321XLR is not a single trick aircraft.  It’s a very versatile machine that can go international, but it can also operate a domestic transcontinental route.  So, you’re going to have this experience of lie-flat seats on a narrowbody between Toronto, Montreal and the west coast of Canada, for example…”

Air Canada is Canada’s largest domestic and international airline.  The Canadian flag carrier is a founding member of the Star Alliance and holds a Four-Star ranking from Skytrax.  Air Canada provides scheduled passenger service to 180 airports in Canada, the United States, and internationally on six continents.  Through the carrier’s Aeroplan loyalty program, customers can earn and redeem points on the world’s largest airline partner network of 45 airlines.  Air Canada Cargo offers air freight lift and connectivity to hundreds of destinations across six continents with a dedicated fleet of 767-300 Freighters and passenger aircraft belly hold capacity.  Additionally, the airline has committed to a net zero emissions goal from all global operations by 2050.

Source: Air Canada/CNW