Airbus’s long-range narrow-body aircraft, the A321XLR, is opening the door to a new era in global aviation. At present, seven airlines—Aer Lingus, American Airlines, Iberia, IndiGo, Qantas, Qanot Sharq and Wizz Air—have already added the A321XLR to their fleets.
While IndiGo is preparing to deploy the A321XLR on its Greece services later this month, many airlines, including Saudia (with a 144-seat configuration) and Air Canada, are also set to begin XLR operations during 2025.
XLR to Play a Key Role in Air Canada’s Fleet
Air Canada has placed an order for 30 A321XLR aircraft. The first airframe, originally scheduled for delivery in 2024, is now expected to join the fleet in early 2026. The aircraft will be configured with a 182-seat layout, which is considered fairly standard for the XLR.
This configuration will include:
- 14 fully lie-flat business class seats (1-1)
- 168 economy class seats (3-3)
The Advantage of Long-Range Narrow-Body Aircraft
Long-range narrow-body aircraft offer significantly lower travel costs compared with wide-body aircraft. Their ability to achieve profitability with fewer passengers makes them a lower-risk operational option. However, it is also noted that payload restrictions may occur in hot regions, particularly during the summer months.
Aircraft such as the A321XLR make it possible to:
- Open new, long and “thin” routes
- Operate seasonal routes year-round
Optimise load factors and revenue by shifting from wide-body to narrow-body aircraft
Routes Planned by Air Canada with the XLR
Air Canada is positioning the A321XLR primarily on Europe-bound and domestic services departing from Montreal. According to the planning announced as of 15 January, which remains subject to change, the standout routes are as follows:
- 1 May: Montreal – Calgary (daily, seasonal)
- 15 May: Montreal – Dublin (4 weekly, then 787-9)
- 15 May: Montreal – Toulouse (4 weekly to daily, year-round)
- 2 June: Montreal – Edinburgh (June with XLR, then MAX 8)
- 3 June: Montreal – Porto (4–5 weekly, replacing A330-300)
- 17 June: Montreal – Palma de Mallorca (new route, then 787-8)
- 2 July: Montreal – Berlin (new route, 3 weekly)
- 31 July: Montreal – Nantes (new route, starting with MAX 8)
- 1 August: Montreal – Vancouver (daily, seasonal)
Notable Growth on the Edinburgh Route
Edinburgh is showing rapid growth in the North American market. According to OAG data, total two-way seat capacity exceeded 1 million for the first time in 2025. Air Canada launched the Montreal–Edinburgh route last year with the 737 MAX 8.
This year’s season will:
- Begin on 3 June with the A321XLR
- Switch back to the MAX 8 from 7 July
Continue until 6 September
Thanks to increased frequency and capacity, seat supply on this route has risen by 72% compared with last year. According to data from the UK Civil Aviation Authority, a load factor of 78% was achieved in the first season.
XLR Network Expands in August
In August 2025, Air Canada plans to operate four transatlantic routes with the A321XLR:
- Montreal – Berlin
- Montreal – Nantes
- Montreal – Porto
- Montreal – Toulouse
The MAX 8 will be deployed on the Edinburgh and Keflavik routes.
In total, Air Canada has scheduled 702 Europe-bound flights from Montreal. This represents a 12% increase compared with the same period last year. By contrast, seat capacity has increased by only 4%, clearly highlighting the growing use of narrow-body aircraft.
