dailynewsnblog
More than 160 scheduled passenger airlines have long-haul flights. With an average of 120 daily long-haul departures between May and December 2026, 
Air Canada is the world’s 11th-largest operator in this sense.
Compared to the same months last year, Air Canada’s long-haul departures have risen by 7%. That is a decent amount in relatively little time. This is mainly because of more services to South America (+10%), Europe (+7%), and Asia (+6%). Growth to Europe is particularly because of significantly more narrowbody flights. They have risen by 128%, which is, of course, because of the Airbus A321XLR and Boeing 737 MAX 8.
This Is Air Canada’s Longest Route On The A321XLR (For Now)
The 
Star Alliance member has 30 XLRs on order, each of which will have 182 seats. That is the same capacity as Iberia, but marginally fewer than Aer Lingus’ frames (184 seats). Due to where they’ll fly, it is far more than American’s higher-premium offering (155 seats) and United’s (150). Air Canada’s aircraft will have 14 lie-flat suites and 168 seats in economy.
According to OAG schedule data, Air Canada’s first passenger-carrying XLR flight will take place on June 15, from Montreal to Toulouse. This reflects what is known on April 23 and certainly may change. But that will not be the airline’s longest XLR-operated service.
At up to 9h 00m, Copenhagen back to Toronto will be Air Canada’s longest XLR flight. Covering 3,395 nautical miles (6,288 km) each way, it also ranks first by distance. Part of the reason for the high block time, which includes taxi time at both airports, flight time, and a period for short delays, is strong winter winds.
Air Canada will first deploy the narrowbody to Denmark’s capital on October 27, with a three-weekly winter-only service. This means the route will become year-round again, which will boost the airline’s competitiveness and market share. The XLR, which has far fewer seats and a much lower trip cost than a widebody, is critical. In the significantly more popular summer, the route has more flights and many more available seats, with the Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 deployed.
Air Canada’s Second To Fifth-Longest XLR Flights
At up to 8h 55m, Tenerife South back to Toronto is second; more on this route below. In third place is Lyon back to Montreal (8h 45m), followed by London Heathrow back to Toronto (8h 40m) and Berlin back to Montreal (8h 40m).
The variant will arrive at Heathrow for the first time on September 1. For now, at least, the daily service is available until October 22, which was extended from the previous plan. As Air Canada revealed earlier this year, the airline wants to use the 182-seater to reintroduce a daytime service to the UK’s busiest airport.
In early April, Air Canada disclosed that it would fly from Toronto and Montreal to Tenerife South, both of which are brand-new markets. It’ll become the only North American operator in Spain’s Canary Islands since United Airlines ended Newark-Tenerife South flights. Only Toronto will be among the XLR’s ten longest flights. Air Canada will lift off from Canada’s busiest airport to Tenerife on October 25, which is when northern airlines switch to winter schedules based on IATA slot seasons.
|
Days |
Toronto To Tenerife South; Local Times |
Days |
Tenerife South To Toronto; Local Times |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Thursdays, Sundays |
9:35 PM-9:00 AM+1 (7h 25m) |
Mondays, Fridays |
10:55 AM-3:50 PM (8h 55m) |
Air Canada Unveils 2 Surprising New Long-Haul Airbus A321XLR Routes For 2026
Air Canada’s bold move to launch launch flights to this destination is highly intriguing, but will it pay off?
Then There Are these Routes…
At up to 8h 35m, Toulouse back to Montreal, which is the XLR’s first commercial route, ranks sixth. Then there’s Manchester back to Toronto (up to 8h 5m), Lisbon back to Montreal (up to 8h 5m), Porto back to Montreal (up to 7h 50m), and Nantes back to Montreal (up to 7h 50m). As usual, other routes were not far from being included.
Currently, Canada’s largest airline only serves Manchester, in Northwest England, during the summer. It has not operated on a year-round basis for a very long time, but that will now change. On October 25, the carrier will deploy the XLR from Toronto on a four-weekly basis. A year-round offering will be available for the first time in many years, improving its competitiveness against Air Transat, which already runs 12 months a year. While subject to change, Air Canada seems set to use the XLR daily to Manchester next summer.
