Air Canada is in talks to add Airbus A321s as covid gloom lifts

Air Canada is in talks with Airbus SE about adding longer-distance A321neo jets alongside its fleet of Boeing 737 narrowbodies as travel demand rebounds, people with knowledge of the matter said. The carrier is looking at ordering 10 to 20 aircraft, one of the people said. The negotiations are preliminary and may not lead to a deal, according to the people, who asked not to be named discussing matters that aren’t public. While Air Canada was an established operator of Airbus’s original A320 family, it chose the Boeing Max in the contest between new-generation planes. Adding a small fleet of A321neos would bring a further boost for an Airbus model that can carry 220 people in two classes over longer distances than the rival Max 10. Air Canada is also talking with jet lessors about sourcing the A321s, one of the people said. An Airbus spokeswoman declined to comment on any discussions the company may have with customers. Air Canada referenced a Feb. 18 conference call, when CEO Michael Rousseau discussed fleet renewal initiatives as the airline emerges from the pandemic. Last May, the CEO said that Airbus A321LR, or long range, models “potentially have a place in the Air Canada fleet as we go forward.” Other airlines have also returned to growth mode, looking ahead to fielding newer, less-polluting planes in the post-pandemic era as the drag on demand caused by the coronavirus starts to lift. <br/>