Air Canada’s network planning team has been eagerly anticipating the arrival into its fleet of the airline’s first Airbus A321XLR, which will bring with it opportunities to open new markets.

For years, the team has been poring over data to determine the best way to deploy this game-changing aircraft. And now, with first delivery on the horizon, it is no longer just a paper exercise, said Alexandre Lefevre, Vice President, Network Planning – North America and Scheduling at Air Canada.

Last month, Air Canada announced the first new route that the A321XLR will allow it to open, marking the start of its new era of growth. Palma de Mallorca, a Spanish island in the Mediterranean, will join Air Canada’s network in June 2026. The A321XLR will also be seen on routes like Toulouse, Dublin and Edinburgh, all out of Montréal, next summer.

There are many factors that go into determining where an airline flies and which aircraft to use. At the end of the day, it requires a delicate balancing of range, demand and economics.

While the A321XLR will be used to develop new international markets or maintain them in the shoulder season, Canadian travellers flying domestically or within North America will also be able to enjoy the modern new aircraft and its new interior.

Some of the advantages of the A321XLR are a longer range thanks to the larger fuel tank and an all-new cabin, including the larger overhead XL bins from Airbus.

The A321XLR will be the launch platform for many of the new features that customers will see across the Air Canada fleet. It's going to come with a new look and feel in the cabin, and that is something that will be rolled out across the entire Air Canada fleet.