dailynewsnblog
Things change fast in aviation. They always have and always will. This includes the routes of new aircraft in an airline’s fleet. Despite not even taking delivery of its first Airbus A321XLR yet, 
Air Canada continues to add to, and change, the narrowbody’s planned network.
A week after revealing two additional routes to Europe, the Star Alliance member confirmed the variant’s first US-bound service. It’ll be from its first XLR base in Montreal to Los Angeles. It will also fly from its Quebec hub to Lyon, becoming the third French city to see the equipment.
Air Canada’s 1st US Route With The XLR
Each week, airlines submit schedule changes to Cirium Diio, OAG, etc. Various new markets are often revealed because of this, even before they’re officially announced. For example, the latest updated showed that Aer Lingus plans to fly the XLR from Dublin to Barbados, while Air Canada has added two new links aboard the equipment.
Air Canada will fly the XLR from Montreal to 
Los Angeles. For now, at least, it’ll only operate between October 1 and 24, which is the final day of the northern aviation summer based on IATA slot seasons. It may be extended through the winter. The carrier’s 182-seat XLR will replace the 137-seat A220-300.
The carrier plans many more US flights on the XLR. Of course, none of them will be anywhere near the equipment’s longest routes. Air Canada currently plans two transcontinental domestic services, so this isn’t much different. Elsewhere, Qantas flies the variant across Australia. American does so across the US, while United Airlines plans to do the same. Wizz Air, Aer Lingus, and Iberia partly fly it within Europe.
|
Frequency |
Montreal To Los Angeles; Local Times* |
Los Angeles To Montreal; Local Times** |
|---|---|---|
|
Daily |
AC775: 8:20 am-11:20 am (now the XLR, replacing the A220-300) |
AC774: 8:15 am-4:35 pm (A220-300/737 MAX 8) |
|
Daily |
AC777: 4:55 pm-7:55 pm (A220-300/737 MAX 8) |
AC778: 12:25 pm-8:45 pm (now the XLR, replacing the A220-300) |
|
Daily |
AC779: 6:25 pm-9:26 pm (A220-300) |
AC780: 10:20 pm-6:40 am+1 (A220-300) |
|
* October 12-18. Shown in Simple Flying’s new time format |
** October 12-18. Shown in Simple Flying’s new time format |
The XLR Will Also Fly To Lyon
In the latest update, Air Canada has confirmed that the XLR will operate on the Francophone link from Montreal to Lyon. It will, for now at least, do so between September 8 and October 22, with five weekly flights. AC876 will leave Canada at 10:15 pm and arrive in Europe at 11:40 am+1 local time. Returning, AC877 will depart at 1:55 pm and get back at 4:40 pm local time.
The narrowbody will replace both the 255-seat 787-8 and the 298-seat 787-9, which will, of course, be deployed elsewhere. The downgauge necessarily means far fewer seats for sale, but that will help with loads and yields, especially because it’ll operate outside the absolute peak season.
Timed at a maximum of 8h 45m, it is Air Canada’s new second-longest XLR-operated service, after Copenhagen back to Toronto (9h 00m). It replaces Toronto-London Heathrow (8h 40m) and Montreal-Berlin (8h 40m) for the second spot. As the carrier will no longer use the XLR between Montreal and Palma de Mallorca, that route is no longer considered.
Over 10-Hour Nonstop Flights: The A321XLR’s New Very Long Routes Revealed
The world’s longest scheduled Airbus A321XLR flight has been revealed. But is this new milestone a game-changer or an endurance test for passengers?
Air Canada’s XLR Routes (For Now)
As of February 4, Air Canada plans 12 routes with the XLR. Nine will be to Europe, two will be within Canada, and one will be to the US. When writing, the first passenger-carrying flight remains on May 1, from Montreal to Calgary.
Things change quickly, especially before equipment has entered service with another airline. And this is not just in terms of additions. While the XLR will now fly from Montreal to Los Angeles and Lyon, it’ll no longer be used from Montreal to Dublin or Palma de Mallorca.
