en.Wedoany.com Reported - Air Canada has officially taken delivery of its first Airbus A321XLR today in Hamburg, Germany. The aircraft, leased from SMBC Aviation Capital, is the first of 30 A321XLRs in Air Canada's future fleet, with 15 to be acquired through leasing and 15 purchased directly from Airbus.

The aircraft is currently flying from Hamburg to Windsor, Ontario, Canada, where it will enter the final preparation phase before entering service, including local acceptance, crew familiarization, maintenance checks, regulatory documentation, and cabin preparations. Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President of Revenue and Network Planning at Air Canada, called the aircraft "transformative," stating: "The Airbus A321XLR injects new momentum into Air Canada's growth strategy, significantly expanding our flexibility to launch new international routes and improving our service in existing markets."

Air Canada plans to operate its first scheduled A321XLR route on June 15, flying from Montréal-Trudeau International Airport to Toulouse-Blagnac Airport in France, covering a distance of 3,650 miles. This route will have the highest number of A321XLR flights in this year's schedule, with 266 departures. Subsequently, the aircraft will serve routes including Montréal to Calgary, Berlin, Nantes, Porto, Lyon, Lisbon, and Tenerife, as well as Toronto to London, Manchester, Tenerife, and Copenhagen. The longest route currently listed is Toronto to Copenhagen, approximately 3,900 miles, with an estimated return flight time of 9 hours. Air Canada currently operates this route using the Boeing 787-9 and will switch to the A321XLR when winter demand declines.

The aircraft is configured with 182 seats, including 14 lie-flat Signature Class seats and 168 economy seats. This marks the first time Air Canada has equipped a single-aisle aircraft with lie-flat seats. The A321XLR also introduces the new "Glowing Hearted" cabin standard, featuring 4K OLED seatback screens, Bluetooth audio, USB-C and AC power outlets. The cabin design incorporates red stitching, natural wood detailing, and a backlit maple leaf ceiling among other elements.

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