Is it possible that Air Canada will order Airbus A321neos? According to Bloomberg, Airbus SE is in preliminary talks with the Canadian flag carrier about buying 10 to 20 of the long-range A321neo variants. There’s no word on whether it’ll be the current A321LR or the much-anticipated A321XLR, which is expected to enter fleets next year.
President and Chief Executive, Mike Rousseau, expressed interest in the narrowbody’s back in 2021:
“I think we’ve done a pretty good job covering ourselves for growth beyond our expectations, but certainly also for even further fine-tuning and potentially getting rid of the A319-100s if the market doesn’t come back as fast as we want it to. That gives us the opportunity to then step into potentially a new type of aircraft like the A321neo (LR)s, for example, that that potentially has a place in Air Canada’s fleet as we go forward”
Why the Airbus A321neo?
The A321neo has sparked a lot of attention. The airline is replacing its aged A320ceos with new Boeing 737 MAX 8s, with eight of them still on the way. With Air Canada vowing to restore its global network in the aftermath of the epidemic, the A321neo could be the plane to accomplish it.
With over 4,000 orders in the pipeline, the A321neo has proven to be a popular choice among airlines. It fills the gap left by the Boeing 757 in the middle-market segment, with a range of 4,000 nautical miles and a capacity of 180–200 passengers in a standard two-class layout. It now serves JetBlue, SAS, and Air Transat on transatlantic flights.
The A321XLR is expected to enhance that even further, with a range of 4,700 nautical miles, much beyond the 3,550 nautical miles of the 737 MAX 8. The A321XLR, if chosen by Air Canada, might open up medium-capacity long-haul routes to Central Europe from Toronto and Montreal, as well as transpacific services to Japan from Vancouver.
Air Canada’s fleet development
Air Canada’s success with smaller planes, of which it now possesses 37, has previously been established by the Airbus A220. With its low-capacity, mid-range services across North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, the A220 has been a hit. The carrier recently reversed a canceled contract for 12 of the type, which will enter the fleet in 2024.
Speaking of the airline’s decision on the A220, Rousseau has said:
“Following a rigorous evaluation of its capabilities, we’re confident that the aircraft’s superior range, economics and seating capacity will provide a stellar passenger experience and contribute significantly to our development plans to expand our network and increase point-to-point service to Canadian and transborder markets.”
The A321neo is expected to have more than just a “possible” home in Air Canada’s fleet, joining the A220 and 737 MAX 8 in providing robust point-to-point services across North America and Europe.
