Air Canada faces delayed deliveries of A321XLR jets

Air Canada is experiencing “friction” in the system as it faces delays in the delivery of its Airbus A321XLR jets, according to the airline’s COO on Wednesday (June 3), even as the carrier prepares to launch service this month using the new long-range, single-aisle aircraft.

The aviation industry is grappling with ongoing aircraft delivery setbacks as both Boeing and Airbus work to increase production of next-generation, fuel-efficient planes.

Airlines worldwide are facing delays across several aircraft programs, largely driven by supply-chain disruptions and labor shortages.

“On the XLR program, unfortunately, we have been on the receiving end of several delays in the program, and these aircraft are, you know, ⁠the better part of two years late from what we originally anticipated when we made the order," Air Canada's executive vice president and chief operations officer, Mark Nasr, told Reuters in an interview.

“It’s not specific to just anyone, but there still is friction in the system and we’ve had to adopt our business to be candidly much more flexible.”

Air Canada plans to deploy the A321XLR on transatlantic routes including Toulouse and Copenhagen. 

The launch, however, is set for Montreal–Palma de Mallorca on June 17.

Air Canada is evaluating Airbus’s proposed stretched version of the A220, which the carrier currently operates on several U.S. routes. 

“Once the specs on the aircraft are finalized, we will study them,” Nasr said. “One of the questions we’ll have to examine is the range ⁠of the aircraft, and this is why the technical specs end up being very important," he added.

 "So we really need the full package of specs to be able to appropriately study it.”

The new aircraft also introduces Air Canada Signature Class on a single-aisle jet for the first time, with 14 lie-flat seats, alongside a new cabin interior standard — dubbed "Glowing Hearted" — featuring updated in-flight entertainment, Bluetooth connectivity, personal power at every seat and complimentary Wi-Fi for Aeroplan members.

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