American Airlines is preparing to introduce its new Airbus A321XLR on international flights for the first time, expanding its European network in 2026.
The Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier will launch new seasonal service between New York-JFK and Edinburgh, Scotland, beginning March 8, 2026. The route will operate through Oct. 24 and join American’s returning Philadelphia–Edinburgh flights next summer.
American’s Philadelphia-to-Edinburgh flights are slated to begin on March 28, and will be operated with a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.
“After a successful summer in Edinburgh, American is excited to offer a second route to give travelers more access to one of their favorite destinations,” said Brian Znotins, American’s senior vice president of network and schedule planning, in a news release. “With the game-changing Airbus A321XLR now in our fleet, we could not be more excited to connect the Big Apple with Auld Reekie.”
American’s A321XLRs are configured with 20 Flagship Suite business class seats, 12 Premium Economy seats, and 123 economy seats.
The A321XLR will first enter domestic service between New York and Los Angeles in December before joining transatlantic operations next spring. American said additional long-range routes will follow as more aircraft are delivered.
Other carriers are already deploying the A321XLR on transatlantic routes. Iberia became the type’s launch customer last year, flying from Madrid to Boston and later Washington Dulles. Aer Lingus has also taken delivery of the aircraft and is preparing to use the type for similar-length transatlantic links.
The A321XLR is certified to operate non-stop up to 4,700 nautical miles. American is the type’s first U.S. operator.
