Air Canada took delivery of its first Airbus A321XLR in Hamburg on April 24, becoming the first Canadian operator of the long-range narrowbody. The aircraft is part of an order for 30 jets, half of which will be leased from SMBC Aviation Capital.
The carrier said the A321XLR will be used on routes that are currently difficult to operate profitably with larger widebody aircraft, with Tenerife becoming one of the first examples.
The Montreal–Tenerife route will begin on October 31 with one weekly flight. Flight AC956 will depart Montréal-Trudeau at 21:00 and arrive in Tenerife at 09:00 the following day. The return flight, AC957, will leave Tenerife at 10:55 and land in Montreal at 14:10.
From Toronto, service will begin on October 25 with two weekly frequencies. Flight AC954 will depart Toronto Pearson at 20:35 and arrive in Tenerife at 09:00 the following day. The return service, AC955, will leave Tenerife at 10:55 and arrive in Toronto at 14:50.
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Air Canada configured the A321XLR with 14 lie-flat Signature Class seats and 168 economy seats. The cabin also includes in-seat power, Wi-Fi access for Aeroplan members and an updated in-flight entertainment system with Bluetooth connectivity.
Air Canada executives said the aircraft will allow the carrier to open thinner long-haul routes that would be difficult to sustain with larger widebody aircraft while also adding flexibility to existing international markets.
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The A321XLR is the longest-range variant of the A320neo family, with a range of up to 4,700 nautical miles. Airbus says the aircraft burns around 30% less fuel per seat than older-generation narrowbodies, making it attractive for airlines targeting secondary long-haul markets.
Air Canada currently operates 136 Airbus aircraft and has 61 more on order, including A350-1000s. Airbus had logged more than 500 A321XLR orders as of March 2026.
