Air Canada Adds New A321XLR Route

The aircraft will be used for a brief window next fall.

Zach Vasile

Monday, December 01, 2025 at 01:07 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An Air Canada A321XLR rendering (Photo: Air Canada)

Key Takeaways:

Air Canada will begin deploying its new Airbus A321XLR aircraft in early 2026, with the first route being Montreal to Palma de Mallorca in June of that year.
The A321XLR will temporarily operate the Halifax-London Heathrow route from late September to October 2026, stepping in for the Boeing 737 MAX.
The airline plans to integrate the A321XLR into other existing international routes and is considering it for new longer domestic and international routes, leveraging its extended range and capacity.

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Air Canada will use the Airbus A321XLR to connect Halifax and London Heathrow next year, temporarily replacing the Boeing 737 MAX.

Aeroroutes reported Saturday that the A321XLR will operate the transatlantic route between Sept. 30 and Oct. 24, 2026. Air Canada did not announce the change, but the airline’s website shows the A321XLR will be used for service between Halifax and London during that window.

The carrier expects to take delivery of its first A321XLR in early 2026. The first new Air Canada route using the extended-range aircraft will be from Montreal to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, starting in June next year.

The A321XLR will also support existing routes between Montreal and Dublin, Toulouse, France, and Edinburgh, Scotland, in the summer of 2026.

Air Canada leaders have said they are looking at adding the aircraft to longer domestic routes to give passengers access to more amenities. They are also considering new routes that would make sense for the A321XLR’s range and capacity.