Air Canada Orders 24 a321XLRs

[jpilot77]

https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/ ... 83497.html

Arrival 2024.

[rudder]

Best guess on what they are replacing? Or growth?

[jpilot77]

The fact that they’re XLRs would tend to make me think they will doing a lot of transatlantic flying, so probably a replacement for the 767s at Rouge. Now are they going to be doing that at mainline or actually at rouge… That’s the question.

[Latitude]

The fact that they’re XLRs would tend to make me think they will doing a lot of transatlantic flying, so probably a replacement for the 767s at Rouge. Now are they going to be doing that at mainline or actually at rouge… That’s the question.

Mainline. Cabin will have 14 lie flat seats in signature class.

[dhc#]

Article mentions 26 aircraft not 24 ?

[Sharklasers]

For a guy who just weeks ago insisted that these would never happen I am pretty excited.
26 with options for 14 more. Less seats than the current mainline 321s

[rudder]

I am guessing these are replacements for 15 mainline 321-200’s then growth for either/both transatlantic and Caribbean (seasonal allocation/non-Rouge).

[jpilot77]

I am guessing these are replacements for 15 mainline 321-200’s then growth for either/both transatlantic and Caribbean (seasonal allocation/non-Rouge).

Who knows, but if they wanted to replace the current mainline 321s no need for the XLRs (or more precisely 15 NEOs and the rest XLRs) but they went all XLR.

[dhc#]

Will be interesting to see what trans Atlantic route pairings these aircraft will be deployed on, especially to/from western Canada.

[Sharklasers]

I am guessing these are replacements for 15 mainline 321-200’s then growth for either/both transatlantic and Caribbean (seasonal allocation/non-Rouge).

Most of the mainline 321s are young enough that they wouldn’t be looking for a replacements. This is growth.

[rudder]

I am guessing these are replacements for 15 mainline 321-200’s then growth for either/both transatlantic and Caribbean (seasonal allocation/non-Rouge).

Most of the mainline 321s are young enough that they wouldn’t be looking for a replacements. This is growth.

Quote straight out of the AC press release:

“ The A321XLR will be used both for incremental growth of Air Canada's fleet and to replace older, less-efficient aircraft expected to exit the fleet.”

I guess they will replace more than 1 current 321 and perhaps less than 15. Or perhaps some of the 320’s will also exit the fleet.

[C-GGGQ]

I’d wager its the 320’s some of those are long in the tooth now.

[altiplano]

I am guessing these are replacements for 15 mainline 321-200’s then growth for either/both transatlantic and Caribbean (seasonal allocation/non-Rouge).

Most of the mainline 321s are young enough that they wouldn’t be looking for a replacements. This is growth.

Quote straight out of the AC press release:

“ The A321XLR will be used both for incremental growth of Air Canada's fleet and to replace older, less-efficient aircraft expected to exit the fleet.”

I guess they will replace more than 1 current 321 and perhaps less than 15. Or perhaps some of the 320’s will also exit the fleet.

No surprises here.

These really are 767 replacements.

They will operate on former LCC767 European routes out of YUL/YYZ.

I also expect to see them extensively on transcons, particularly red-eyes out of LAX/SFO. AC was using the mainline 767s on these routes prior to Cov19 and marketing their signature class as the only transcon layflats in North America.

My question is where the ETOPs 737s will fit here. Over the next couple years they will reopen some of the Western European routes with it, secondary market France, Canadian non-hub cities direct, etc. but I don't think they will stay with the 737 on Atlantic routes after the XLR arrives. Business class passengers expect lay flat on the Atlantic, that was one of the biggest mistakes with rouge, they through away the high yield clientele.

We may see a rebalancing of the NB fleet with YVR becoming the dominant 737 base, at least for ETOPs due to the shorter YVR-Hawaii segments and the fact it better matches their competition on that route, ie.WJ. We will see frequencies expanded there, all the spots daily, double daily HNL, etc.

[thrust set]

My understanding during a chat with a manager was that the 321 XLR’s will be a presence on the Atlantic and the Hawaiian islands to supplement the 737 MAX. Rouge pilots will be moved to AQP thus allowing all Airbus pilots to bid and fly mainline, Rouge and Jetz in order of seniority. A cabin upgrade will also occur on the existing 321’s and newer (lol) 320’s.

[Dias]

Best guess on what they are replacing? Or growth?

Transat

[fish4life]

I bet the Max will do the shorter European routes out of the east coast and the XLR’s will do thinner YUL and YYZ routes. I think the XLR’s need lie flat / less total seats not only for weight but also because the fuel tanks take up so much more baggage space that a full LCC layout doesn’t work.

[RVR6000]

Great move by AC, why purchase a debt laden Transat when a few XLR can replicate its flying for fraction the cost. I see these heavily utilized for the YYZ-YUL rouge 767 flying.

Will all 320 pilots be ETOPs qualified? Or will they play base politics to pass through the next cost-neutral contract.

[Sharklasers]

Great move by AC, why purchase a debt laden Transat when a few XLR can replicate its flying for fraction the cost. I see these heavily utilized for the YYZ-YUL rouge 767 flying.

Will all 320 pilots be ETOPs qualified? Or will they play base politics to pass through the next cost-neutral contract.

That’s lots of ETOPs metal but I can’t see them being able to keep everyone ETOPs current.

[Col. Panic]

Great move by AC, why purchase a debt laden Transat when a few XLR can replicate its flying for fraction the cost. I see these heavily utilized for the YYZ-YUL rouge 767 flying.

Will all 320 pilots be ETOPs qualified? Or will they play base politics to pass through the next cost-neutral contract.

It’s all “natural” YWG flying!