Air Canada said on Tuesday it would add 26 extra-long-range versions of the Airbus A321neo
aircraft to its fleet as travel demand has jumped after a blip caused by the Omicron
coronavirus.
Canadian carriers are seeing a bounce in spring travel as COVID-19 shows signs of ebbing,
but surging oil prices due to the Russia-Ukraine crisis are casting a shadow ahead of the busy
summer vacation season.
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And in today's video, we are going to talk about “Air Canada Orders the A321neo!”
So without any further ado, Let's begin.
Could an Airbus A321neo order be on the cards for Air Canada?
Bloomberg is reporting that the Canadian flag carrier has been in preliminary talks with
Airbus SE for 10 to 20 of the long-range A321neo variant.
Air Canada is set to acquire 26 extra-long range versions of Airbus’ A321 neo aircraft.
The deliveries will begin in the first quarter of 2024, with the final aircraft set to arrive
at the start of 2027.
The aircraft has a range of approximately 8,700 km and can fly up to 11 hours, meaning
it can operate non-stop services across North America.
Air Canada added that the aircraft could also operate transatlantic services “pending
Transport Canada approval for overseas operations”.
The A321XLR, which stands for “extra long-range,” has an advertised range of 4,300 nautical
miles and an 11-hour endurance, though the type still hasn’t flown yet.
The rollout of the first aircraft is expected soon, with flight testing expected to begin
this year.
These jets will have a total of 182 seats in business and economy class.
The pointy part of the plane will feature 14 lie-flat Air Canada Signature Class seats
similar to those you’d find on international flights operated by its wide-body jets.
Six aircraft would be acquired from Airbus S.A.S.
under an agreement that includes purchase rights to buy an additional 14 planes between
2027 and 2030.
Last year, Air Canada, which was struggling with a collapse in traffic due to the pandemic,
was able to proceed with its planned purchases of 33 Airbus SE 220 airliners after it signed
a $4.69 billion government aid deal.
The new Airbus A321XLR aircraft is an ideal replacement for older and less fuel-efficient
aircraft.
The latest generation Single Aisle jet will allow Air Canada to add new destinations in
the most sustainable way.
The A321XLR is the next evolutionary step in the A320neo Family of aircraft, meeting
market requirements for increased range and payload in a single-aisle aircraft, and creating
more value for airlines by enabling economically viable service on longer routes than any comparable
aircraft model.
It will allow services from Eastern Canada to a much larger selection of European destinations.
“Air Canada is committed to further strengthening its market-leading position, especially through
investments in new technology.
The acquisition of the state-of-the-art Airbus A321XLR is an important element of this strategy
and will drive our core priorities of elevating the customer experience, advancing our environmental
goals, network expansion, and increasing our overall cost efficiency.
This order also shows that Air Canada is emerging strongly from the pandemic and is ideally
positioned to grow, compete and thrive in a reshaped global aviation industry” said
Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada.
The Airbus A220 has already set a precedent for Air Canada's success with smaller jets,
of which it currently has 37.
The A220 has been a hit on its low capacity, mid-range services which operate across North
America, Central America, and the Caribbean.
Last month, the carrier reversed its canceled order for 12 of the type, joining the fleet
in 2024.
“The exceptional versatility and performance of the A321XLR will enable Air Canada to further
develop its network expansion in a sustainable way with increased efficiencies and reduced
CO2 emissions,” said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of
Airbus International.
“We thank Air Canada for its confidence in us and are delighted by the step-up in
our longstanding relationship.”
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