Air Canada interested in A321neo

During its Q1-2021 financial update, the CEO of Air Canada commented on the future development of the fleet and specifically mentioned the airline is interested in the A321neo (LR or XLR) as part of its post-Corona expansion strategy. The type would give the airline more flexibility to rightsize demand and capacity on its (longhaul) network. It's not the first time the CEO has expressed interest in the A321neo, he also mentioned this option for the fleet when the airline cancelled orders for ten B737MAXs in April last year.

Further it was mentioned that the A319s in the fleet at both Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge might be the next type to be phased-out if demand after COVID-19 remains low. In total both airlines operate 27 A319s (seven at Air Canada, twenty at Rouge).

Air Canada (and Rouge) has a fairly large Airbus narrowbody-fleet which, next to the A319s, also consists of 22 A320s (eighteen at Air Canada, four at Rouge) and 29 A321s (fifteen at Air Canada and fourteen at Rouge). The airline also has 24 B737-8s (with sixteen additional orders) and nineteen A220-300s (with 26 more on order).  In the call it was highlighted the airline has options on more A220s and B737MAXs but has no options or orders for the A321neo.

Another noteworthy item mentioned in the update was the fact that Air Canada Rouge will remain a narrowbody carrier for the foreseeable future and widebody operations will for now be consolidated at the mainline. Over the years, Air Canada Rouge operated 25 B767-300ERs with the type being retired due to the Corona-pandemic and subsequently slump in demand.

Photo by Anton Homma.