I don’t know how many times I’ve state it, but it can’t be understated how the Airbus A321XLR is a game changer for many airlines. We’re assisting at new routes popping up globally that previously wouldn’t have been economically viable. The latest airline to announce the arrival of the A321XLR is Air Canada which has also announced its first destination for the new aircraft type, Palma de Mallorca.
Palma de Mallorca Becomes Air Canada’s First A321XLR Destination
Palma de Mallorca will be a landmark destination for Air Canada. The airline will serve the Spanish island non-stop from Montreal utilizing the first of its Airbus A321XLRs.
What makes it so special is that it will be a transatlantic flight aboard a narrow body plane which for the first time in Air Canada’s history will offer lie-flat beds in business class.
The new route is clearly a tourist and leisure oriented one and will therefore be a seasonal service. With flight AC924 commencing and terminating on:
- Commences June 17th 2026
- Ends October 23rd 2026
Air Canada is betting on this new Montreal to Palma de Mallorca flight as it is bringing it to the market with 4 weekly frequencies. That is not few fore a leisure service to a secondary airport. Air Canada Montreal to Palma de Mallorca flight will be operational every:
- Monday
- Wednesday
- Friday
- Sunday
AC924 Flight Timings
| Route | Flight Number | Days | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal → Palma | AC924 | Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday | 18:45 | 08:25+1 | Airbus A321XLR |
| Palma → Montreal | AC925 | Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday | 12:15 | 15:10 | Airbus A321XLR |
A321XLR Fleet to Enter Service in 2026
The A321XLR poised to serve the new Air Canada Montreal to Palma de Mallorca flight AC924 service will be the first to join the airline’s fleet. This will inevitably mark a big change in operations, opening to the possibility of serving secondary airports on non-stop transatlantic services.
The plane is scheduled to arrive in Canada in Q1 of 2026 and will be the first of 30 aircraft of the type Air Canada has on order. This specific A321XLR will be a leased aircraft originally ordered by aircraft leasing firm Air Lease to Airbus.
By the end of 2026 Air Canada expects to have and operate a fleet of 10 Airbus A321XLR which it will be deploying on other transatlantic routes it has also announces in the same press release. I’ll cover those further down in the post.
Aircraft Configuration and Onboard Product
I mentioned before this is a game changing aircraft for Air Canada, and part of that is because for the first time business class passengers will enjoy lie-flat seat on a narrow body plane. In other words a wide body experience on a narrow body plane. It won’t be the most comfortable in the back where you will feel you are in a smaller space than when flying an A330 or a 787.
The configuration features 2 classes of travel, Business and Economy Class. Each equipped with:
- 14 Seats in Business Class
- 168 Seats in Economy Class
Business class features a 1-1 layout while economy class will come in a 3-3 standard narrow body seating configuration.
Other Routes Transitioning to The A321XLR
Announced it will progressively transition some of its existing transatlantic services to the A321XLR also. Specifically its years round flight from Montreal to Toulouse, France, will be moving over to the A321XLR along with its seasonal service from Edinburgh.
Those are only the first to be announced with more transatlantic and north American services soon to be also revealed operating from Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax.
Executive Commentary
“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. This revolutionary narrow-body aircraft unlocks new, exciting global opportunities with its wide-body range and enhanced onboard product. Today, we begin that journey of growth with the announcement of Palma de Mallorca as the first new destination made possible by this fleet.”
Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President – Air Canada