Air Canada Launches New 9-Hour Nonstop Transatlantic A321XLR Route: Limited Flights

Published Sep 12, 2026, 12:01 PM EDT Journalist – Aaron is an aviation and travel journalist with 14 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry. His background spans airport operations, aviation infrastructure, and travel consulting, having worked with global organizations across New Zealand, Europe, and North America. Combining industry expertise with firsthand travel experience across more than 52 countries and five continents, Aaron covers airlines, airports, aviation policy, and the wider travel sector. He is based in Canterbury, New Zealand. His work has been published in Simple Flying and featured by MSN, SAM CHUI Aviation & Travel, EIN News, Pakistan Defence, and Climate Depot. Air Canada has launched another transatlantic Airbus A321XLR route, this time connecting Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL) and Lyon . The route launched with the new state-of-the-art aircraft on September 7, but will operate for only about a month before being replaced by widebodies. The airline has chosen to deploy the narrowbody, long-range-capable aircraft during the shoulder season, which otherwise would not support widebody coverage. Air Canada will also utilize the aircraft on the route short-term in spring, with the plane operating the corridor five times a week from the end of March through to the end of April. Airbus A321XLR Nine Hour Return Flight Credit: Air Canada Looking at flight timetables, the outbound service from Canada's second-largest city runs five times weekly, leaving late in the evening for the overnight service to Europe. The aircraft arrives in Lyon at lunchtime, before the return service leaves early afternoon for a mid-afternoon arrival back to Canada. Loading map… Drag to explore Outbound flights to Lyon average seven hours, 25 minutes; however, return flights face headwinds, pushing the flight duration to almost nine hours (eight hours, 45 minutes). A long time to be stuck on a narrowbody aircraft. Flight Frequency Origin Departure Time Destination Arrival Time Duration Aircraft AC876 5x Weekly Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL) 10:15 PM Lyon–Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS) 11:40 AM + 1 day 7 hours, 25 minutes Airbus A321XLR AC877 5x Weekly Lyon–Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS) 12:55 PM Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL) 3:40 PM 8 hours, 45 minutes Airbus A321XLR A Change From The Airbus A330 Credit: Air Canada Canada's flag carrier's decision to replace the A330 on the route with the A321XLR sees the airline utilize a smaller aircraft in the shoulder season, where demand does not justify the need for a widebody aircraft. Air Canada will also fly the Boeing 787 Dreamliner on the route during August and September. Air Canada, alongside Air Transat, is the only long-haul carrier offering nonstop transatlantic flights from Lyon to North America. A market that is popular between the two French-speaking cities and provides connections across the airline's domestic and international network through Montreal. Air Canada undoubtedly caters to premium passengers on the route, while Air Transat caters to leisure-focused passengers. Passengers onboard the A321XLR will see 182 seats total: 14 Signature business-class lie-flat pods in a 1-1 configuration, and 168 economy seats in a 3-3 configuration with 31 inches of seat pitch and 5 inches of recline. Flying To Lyon For Just Over A Month Credit: Air Canada As mentioned, Air Canada will fly the A321XLR between Montreal and Lyon for just over a month, from September 7 to October 22. The A330 will then return for the winter season before switching back to the A321XLR in late March. Next Summer, Air Canada will send the 787-8 and 787-9 to Lyon (please note schedules are subject to change). Air Canada maintains nonstop flights between Canada and five French cities, including Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG), Lyon, Nantes (NTE), Nice-Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE), Marseille Provence Airport (MRS) and Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS); three of these routes already see the A321XLR, being Nantes, Toulouse, and now Lyon. Montreal-based Air Canada operates a mainline fleet of more than 200 aircraft, with six A321XLRs already flying both domestic and international routes. The airline has a total order of 30 of this type.