American Airlines and Air Transat have announced new transatlantic routes, expanding their services 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. This marks the airline’s first long-haul route using the new Airbus A321XLR aircraft.
Just a week prior, American disclosed that its inaugural route for the A321XLR will be from New York JFK to Los Angeles. This strategic expansion highlights the increasing demand for transatlantic travel, particularly to Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh. American previously served this route between 2015 and 2018 using the Boeing 757-200 before withdrawing.
Expanding Transatlantic Services
The upcoming service will be a daily operation, utilizing the 155-seat A321XLR, which features 20 business class suites, 12 premium economy seats, and 123 main cabin seats. This addition will make American Airlines the first carrier to offer two routes to Edinburgh, with the second route originating from Philadelphia. The growth in air traffic to Edinburgh has been remarkable, with data from Cirium indicating that the city is set to surpass one million available seats in 2025, representing a 28% increase from the previous record held in 2024.
American’s return to this market comes as competition has increased. Delta Air Lines began serving the route in 2016, and JetBlue initiated its flights in 2024. This will be the first time three airlines operate on this route, alongside United Airlines, which continues its service from Newark.
Air Transat is also making strides in expanding its transatlantic offerings. On the same day as American’s announcement, the Canadian airline revealed that it will launch a new route from Montreal to Agadir, Morocco, starting on June 12, 2026. This will be the first time the Moroccan city has direct service to North America, marking a significant milestone as it follows Air Transat’s debut to Marrakech earlier in 2024.
Implications for the Market
The Montreal to Agadir route will operate weekly and utilize the 199-seat A321LR aircraft. Flights will arrive in Agadir at 05:50 on Saturdays and depart at 07:20. While Agadir is a smaller market compared to Marrakech, it offers potential for growth, especially among Moroccan Canadians. Booking data indicates that fewer than 15,000 round-trip passengers traveled between Agadir and North America in the past year.
As of now, the total number of scheduled airport pairs between the US, Canada, and Europe for July 2026 stands at 78, up from 68 in July 2025. This expansion is largely driven by the introduction of the A321LR and A321XLR aircraft. Air Canada and American Airlines are new entrants on the A321XLR, facilitating longer routes such as Air Canada’s service from Montreal to Palma de Mallorca.
Overall, the growth in transatlantic flights utilizing these new aircraft types reflects a broader trend in the aviation industry, with narrowbody flights now accounting for 58% of all US and Canada to European routes. The demand for these services is expected to continue rising, indicating a strong recovery and potential for further expansion in the transatlantic market.