Airbus pioneered thin transatlantic routes with the A321 family, but 737s are muscling in with WestJet, Alaska, Southwest, and United. Is this real competition?
The idea of flying a single-aisle jet across the Atlantic used to sound like a punishment until the 757 opened the minds of both travelers and airline executives. But Airbus changed the conversation with the A321LR and, more recently, the A321XLR. These aircraft gave airlines the ability to profitably serve “thin” transatlantic routes, meaning city pairs that couldn’t fill a widebody but had just enough demand for a narrowbody.
JetBlue was among the first US carriers to prove the concept, launching A321LR service from New York and Boston to London. Aer Lingus had already been doing it for years from Dublin. Air Transat jumped in from Canada. And now American Airlines has taken delivery of the A321XLR, launching its first transatlantic route from JFK to Edinburgh in March 2026. Reports this week suggested that several more were on the way and some that operated seasonally will now see support all year. Air Canada is also adding the type to its fleet.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Live and Let's Fly.
