Air Canada’s New A321XLR Business Class: Transatlantic Comfort Redefined

By PrestigeFly

Air Canada has unveiled its all-new business class cabin for the Airbus A321XLR, set to revolutionize narrow-body transatlantic travel when deliveries begin in 2025. Here’s why this matters for discerning flyers.

The Cabin: Premium Narrow-Body Innovation

✈️ Seat Specs (Collins Aerospace MiQ)

22-inch width (wider than most A330 business seats)
44-inch pitch with zero-gravity recline
Full privacy dividers (industry first for single-aisle)
Wireless charging + 17-inch 4K screens

🌍 Route Strategy

City PairFlight TimeCompetitor ComparisonMontreal-Geneva | 7h20m | Beats Swiss’ A220 business
Toronto-Edinburgh | 6h50m | Superior to BA’s A320neo
Vancouver-Dublin | 8h10m | Only non-stop option

PrestigeFly First Look Verdict

✅ Wins On:

Non-stop convenience (vs. connections on wide-bodies)
Privacy (beats 737 MAX business cabins)
Tech (best inflight entertainment in class)

⚠️ Limitations:

No lie-flat seats (unlike A330s)
Limited storage (narrow-body constraints)

Pro Tip: Book Row 1 for extra legroom (+8 inches).

The Bigger Picture

Air Canada’s move signals:
✔ More point-to-point premium routes
✔ Pressure on European carriers to upgrade
✔ Potential for US transcon premium cabins

Compare Narrow-Body Business Classes

Explore More

🔗 Air Canada’s Official A321XLR Page
🔗 Best Transatlantic Business Class (The Points Guy)
🔗 Why Narrow-Bodies Are Going Long-Haul (CNN)