Air Canada’s New Airbus A321XLR Unlocks Routes Its Boeing 737 MAX 8s Could Never Fly Nonstop

Flying twin-engine narrowbodies across oceans is becoming a new trend. Some airlines have long flown Boeing 757-200s across the Atlantic, with the Airbus A321LR having recently gained traction with European airlines for this same purpose. At Air Canada, the Boeing 737 MAX 8 has partially served this role as well, with the Canadian flag carrier set to operate seven transatlantic routes with the 737 for the 2026 summer season. However, while the 737 MAX 8 is an efficient, capable airliner, these routes stretch the limits of what the aircraft can do.