dailynewsnblog
Air Canada has been making headlines for all the right reasons of late, with its first Airbus A321XLR having recently taken its maiden test flight. The Montreal-based Canadian flag carrier and Star Alliance member initially plans to deploy the type domestically, before using it to foster international growth on secondary transatlantic routes. Air Canada will also use the Airbus A321XLR to modernize one of its transborder routes to the US.
At the time of writing in early March of 2026, current scheduling data made available by Cirium, an aviation analytics company, shows that the airline plans to use its new long-haul narrowbody twinjets on a grand total of 12 different routes this year. Let’s dive deeper into the data to see where exactly it will be flying.
Domestic Duties
As is often the case with the arrival of a new aircraft type at a given carrier, 
Air Canada will get the 182-seat Airbus A321XLR up to speed on a pair of its domestic routes from its hub at Montreal Trudeau International Airport (YUL) before the type makes its international bow at the airline. The first of these will serve Calgary (YYC) from May 1 to 15, and then daily from June 15 right through to the end of the summer schedule on October 24.
Later in the year, Vancouver International Airport (YVR) in British Columbia will also be added to Air Canada’s Airbus A321XLR route roster, with the type’s coverage on this route beginning on August 1. Here, it will also see daily usage, with the last of these rotations departing on September 7. Mark Galardo, the Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer, and Cargo President at Air Canada, welcomed the addition of the A321XLR, saying:
“The imminent arrival of the A321XLR marks the next phase of international growth at Air Canada. This revolutionary narrowbody aircraft unlocks new, exciting global opportunities with its wide-body range and enhanced onboard product. “
Transatlantic Traffic
As detailed in the map above, the bulk of Air Canada’s Airbus A321XLR flights this year will be to secondary transatlantic destinations, with nine of the type’s 12 planned routes in 2026 serving Europe. Three of these will originate in Toronto, with the type flying from Pearson International Airport (YYZ) to Copenhagen Airport (CPH) from October 27, London Heathrow Airport (LHR) from August 31, and Manchester (MAN) from October 25.
Meanwhile, of the type’s six remaining transatlantic routes that originate in Montreal, three will serve destinations in France, underlining the importance of this market as part of Air Canada’s network. Toulouse (TLS) will be served from June 1, followed by Nantes (NTE) from July 15 and Lyon (LYS) from September 8.
Elsewhere in Europe, Edinburgh Airport (EDI) in Scotland will also handle Air Canada flights from Montreal using the Airbus A321XLR. However, this coverage will be limited to just seven round trips between June 16 and 30. Meanwhile, the type will also be deployed to Porto (OPO) in that month, with flights starting on June 15 and running intermittently until October 23. As for Berlin (BER), the A321XLR will operate from July 2 to October 10.
Air Canada Reveals 2 New Long Airbus A321XLR Routes: Here’s Where It’s Flying
The carrier has added another XLR route to Europe, along with the first US-bound service.
Across The Border
The 12th and final route that Air Canada plans to serve this year with its brand new fleet of Airbus A321XLR narrowbody twinjets, of which ch-aviation shows that it has a grand total of 30 units on order, will connect Montreal with 
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). This October, the Canadian flag carrier and Star Alliance founding member plans to deploy the type daily on this transborder route from the first to the 24th of the month.
Compared to other operators of the Airbus A321XLR, and, indeed, its existing A321LR cousin, Air Canada is set to fit the jet with a relatively high-density layout. Indeed, the 182-seat configuration will have space for just 14 business class passengers on board, with the remaining 168 guests all seated in economy.
