American Airlines and Air Transat have announced exciting new transatlantic routes involving the Airbus A321LR and A321XLR, marking a significant expansion in air travel options between North America and Europe. On October 30, American Airlines revealed that it will operate flights from New York’s JFK Airport to Edinburgh starting on March 8, 2026, utilizing the Airbus A321XLR. This route will be the airline’s first long-haul service with the A321XLR.
The announcement comes just a week after American Airlines disclosed that its initial route for the A321XLR will be between New York JFK and Los Angeles. In a parallel development, Air Transat revealed plans to launch a new service from Montreal to Agadir, Morocco, aboard the A321LR. This route will mark the first North American service to the coastal city of Agadir, which has never before had direct flights from North America.
American Airlines Expands Service to Edinburgh
American Airlines has previously served the New York JFK to Edinburgh route between 2015 and 2018 with the Boeing 757-200. The upcoming A321XLR service will feature a total of 155 seats, including 20 business class suites and 12 premium economy seats. This will be the first time the airline operates two routes to Edinburgh, with the second route being from Philadelphia, which it plans to resume in 2025.
The demand for transatlantic travel to Edinburgh has been growing, with data from Cirium showing over one million available seats in 2025—a 28% increase compared to the previous record in 2024. The addition of American Airlines to the market will provide travelers with new options, as the route will be serviced by three airlines for the first time, including Delta and JetBlue.
Air Transat Enters African Market with New Route
Air Transat is making strides in its expansion to Africa, having previously launched service to Marrakech in June 2024. The airline will commence its Montreal to Agadir route on June 12, 2026, also using the Airbus A321LR. This weekly seasonal service will operate with a 199-seat configuration, departing from Montreal and arriving in Agadir early on Saturday mornings.
While Agadir is not as large a market as Marrakech, it represents a growing interest in Morocco from North American travelers, particularly those of Moroccan descent. Current booking data indicates fewer than 15,000 round-trip passengers traveled between Agadir and North America in the past year, primarily from Montreal.
Air Transat’s entry into this market reflects the airline’s ambition to bolster its operations, as it had never flown to Africa before last year. The new route to Agadir will complement its existing service to Marrakech, highlighting the airline’s commitment to expanding its international reach.
The transatlantic air travel landscape continues to evolve, with a projected 78 airport pairs scheduled for operation between the US/Canada and Europe in July 2026. This includes notable additions such as Air Canada’s new route from Montreal to Palma de Mallorca. The introduction of the A321LR and A321XLR models is expected to play a crucial role in this growth, as they will operate 58% of all US/Canada to European narrowbody flights—an increase from previous years.
As airlines adapt to changing travel demand and explore new markets, these developments signify a positive trend for international connectivity and the potential for increased passenger options across the Atlantic.
