Introduction
Air Canada has recently announced initial long-haul Airbus A321XLR routes, including Montreal to Palma de Mallorca, set to launch next June. This will mark the first scheduled service from Canada to the Balearic Islands, including Mallorca.
Newly Announced Routes
In addition to the Montreal-Palma route, Air Canada will also introduce Montreal to Toulouse and Montreal to Edinburgh routes, replacing the Boeing 787-8 and 737 MAX 8 respectively. These will be among the first long-haul XLR flights in France and the UK.
Airbus A321XLR Flights Over 8h 30m
The following list provides details of the longest A321XLR flights, ordered by maximum block time anticipated in 2026:
| Max. Block Time* | Nautical Miles** | Route Direction | 2026 Operations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9h 40m | 3,316 | Madrid to Washington Dulles | Iberia. Three weekly to daily |
| 9h 35m | 3,617 | Madrid to Santo Domingo | Iberia: XLR from October 2, 2025. Three to four weekly |
| 9h 20m | 3,393 | Dublin to Nashville | Aer Lingus: new route, started April 12, 2025. Four weekly |
| 9h 15m | 3,119 | Madrid to New York JFK | Iberia: XLR from October 26, 2025. Daily |
| 9h 05m | 3,448 | Madrid to San Juan | Iberia: XLR from September 13, 2025. Daily to 11 weekly |
| 9h 00m | 3,386 | Madrid to Recife | Iberia: returning route, restarting December 13, 2025 |
| 8h 55m | 3,282 | Palma de Mallorca to Montreal | Air Canada: new route, beginning June 17, 2025. Four weekly |
| 8h 50m | 3,272 | Madrid to Fortaleza | Iberia: returning route, resuming January 19, 2026 |
| 8h 50m | 3,231 | Dublin to Indianapolis | Aer Lingus: new route, began May 3, 2025. Four weekly |
| 8h 45m | 2,963 | Madrid to Boston | Iberia. 10 weekly to two daily |
| 8h 35m | 3,246 | Dublin to Minneapolis | Aer Lingus. Four weekly to daily |
* Reflects either direction in 2026
** Kilometers not provided for brevity
Air Canada’s Longest A321XLR Service
Air Canada will operate the Montreal-Palma route starting June 17 through October 24, with flights scheduled up to 8 hours and 55 minutes. This service marks the beginning of scheduled flights between Canada and the Balearic Islands. The route aims to boost traffic and connectivity from Canada and the U.S., given significant passenger volumes from U.S. cities.
Palma will now have a second long-haul connection, complementing United Airlines’ Newark-Palma service that operates on the 767-400ER.
XLR’s First South American Flight
The inaugural South American XLR service will launch on December 13 from Madrid to Recife, followed by flights to Fortaleza. These new routes will facilitate economic growth and tourism, making Iberia one of the four airlines connecting Europe with Fortaleza and one of three connecting with Recife.
This reintroduction highlights the A321XLR’s role in establishing direct long-haul routes, reducing costs and risks associated with widebody aircraft while requiring fewer passengers for viable operations.
