Air Canada Picks Palma For A321XLR Debut, Fleet To Reach 10 In 2026

Air Canada has selected Palma de Mallorca in Spain as the first new destination to be served using its incoming Airbus A321XLR fleet, signaling the start of a new chapter in the carrier’s long-haul narrowbody strategy.

Deliveries of the type will begin in the first quarter of 2026, ahead of the launch of seasonal Montreal–Palma service on June 17, operating four times per week through Oct. 24. The aircraft will also be used on existing routes, including year-round Montreal–Toulouse and seasonal Montreal–Edinburgh sectors.

“The wait is nearly over as the imminent arrival of the game-changing Airbus A321XLR marks the next phase of international growth at Air Canada,” says Air Canada Executive Vice President and CCO Mark Galardo. “This revolutionary narrowbody aircraft unlocks new, exciting global opportunities with its widebody range and enhanced onboard product.”

With a 4,700-nm (5,408-mi.) range and trip costs that Airbus estimate can be up to 50% lower than widebodies, the A321XLR gives Air Canada the flexibility to sustain year-round service in secondary markets that cannot support larger aircraft, enabling it to offer thinner routes.