Airbus reports that “Ten Airbus A321LR aircraft will be joining the fleet of Canadian airline Air Transat, making it the first North American operator of the longest-range single-aisle aircraft in the world. Air Transat will lease the aircraft through a deal with AerCap, and plans entry into service starting in 2019.”
Air Transat operates 32 aircraft – eight 737NGs and 24 Airbus widebodies. Of the Airbus fleet, nine are A310-300s. These A310s seat 250 and are, frankly, old.  There are no details on the seating layout Air Transat is considering for its A321LRs, but we suspect it will be closer to the higher end, enabling a replacement of ageing A310s. Airbus claims a typical two class layout at 206. The A321LR should provide trans Atlantic reach as well as take the snowbirds south in the winter to the Caribbean and Mexico.
Yet another single aisle longhaul move. Recall how the 757 ended up replacing DC-10s at American, and the L-1011s at Delta. The A321LR could become as disruptive as Mr. Leahy suggests. Air Transat once operated several 757s.
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Air Transat hasn’t make decision yet between LEAP and P&W and this will be communicated when they finalize their choice. I think this order is the beginning of the end for Boeing with Air Transat, why keeping some B737 if they could be replace by A320’s and having one type of single aisle?