In Photos: Air Canada’s First A321XLR Takes Flight in Hamburg

HAMBURG — Air Canada (AC) has reached a key milestone on its Airbus A321XLR program: the first aircraft, C-GXLR, completed a double rejected takeoff (RTO) test at Airbus Hamburg-Finkenwerder (XFW) and flew for the first time the following day.

Air Canada has 30 A321XLRs on order. The type will be a first for AC’s narrowbody fleet by offering lie-flat seats in Business Class, with a planned 182-seat layout: 14 Signature Class and 168 Economy. The A321XLR also launches AC’s next-generation cabin design standard.

Aviation photojournalist Dirk Grothe was at Airbus Hamburg-Finkenwerder to capture the C-GXLR's first flight.

‍Key features of the new cabin standard

‍Enhanced Cabin Experience: Features larger, 15% more spacious "Airspace XL" overhead bins.‍
Technology Upgrades: Implementation of next-generation seatback screens and fast, free, Bell-sponsored Wi-Fi.‍
Fleet Rollout: The design debuts on new Airbus A220-300 deliveries starting March 2026, and will eventually be applied to the Air Canada Express fleet operated by Jazz.‍
Design Aesthetic: The design focuses on a modern, comfortable, and consistent experience across mainline and regional aircraft.