On October 30, American Airlines announced plans to launch a new long-haul route from New York’s JFK Airport to Edinburgh, marking the introduction of the Airbus A321XLR on transatlantic flights. This announcement followed another significant revelation just a week prior, where the airline disclosed that its first route for the Airbus A321XLR would connect New York JFK to Los Angeles. In a related development, Canadian leisure carrier Air Transat revealed its next transatlantic service from Montreal to Agadir, Morocco, which will also utilize the Airbus A321LR.
The service from New York to Edinburgh is set to commence on March 8, 2026, and will represent the second time American Airlines has offered flights on this route. Previously, the carrier serviced this market from 2015 to 2018 using the now-retired Boeing 757-200. The new daily service will feature the 155-seat A321XLR, which includes 20 business class suites, 12 premium economy seats, and 123 main cabin seats. This new route will complement American’s existing flights to Edinburgh from Philadelphia, enhancing the airline’s presence in this popular travel market.
Growth in Transatlantic Air Travel
As Edinburgh continues to grow as a transatlantic destination, data from Cirium indicates that the city will see over one million seats available in 2025, an increase of 28% from the previous record set in 2024. American Airlines’ return to the Edinburgh market comes at a time when competition is intensifying, with Delta and JetBlue also operating flights from New York to Edinburgh. United Airlines continues to serve the city from Newark, but with the resumption of Newark to Glasgow, its frequency to Edinburgh has been reduced, potentially creating an opportunity for American Airlines.
In addition to American Airlines, Air Canada is expanding its transatlantic routes, with Montreal to Agadir set to begin on June 12, 2026. This route marks the first direct North American service to Agadir, a city that has not previously been connected to North America. The seasonal service will operate weekly, utilizing the 199-seat A321LR, arriving in Morocco early on Saturdays.
Strategic Market Moves for Air Transat
Air Transat’s entry into the Agadir market follows its first foray into Africa with flights from Montreal to Marrakech, which began in June 2024. The airline is capitalizing on the growing interest in Moroccan destinations among North American travelers, particularly those from Quebec. While the Agadir route presents challenges due to its smaller market size compared to Marrakech, Air Transat only needs to fill 398 seats weekly to maintain viability.
As of October 31, 2023, Cirium data indicates that the A321LR and A321XLR are set to operate 78 airport pairs between the US, Canada, and Europe by July 2026, an increase from 68 pairs in July 2025. This growth reflects a significant rise in transatlantic narrow-body flights, which now account for 58% of all US/Canada to European flights, up three percentage points from the previous year. New entrants like American Airlines and Air Canada are expected to further expand their route networks as demand continues to grow.
With these new routes, both American Airlines and Air Transat are positioning themselves strategically to capture the increasing demand for transatlantic travel. As travel patterns continue to evolve, these airlines are taking proactive steps to enhance their service offerings and meet the needs of international travelers.
