American Airways has solely had its fingers on its first “game-changing” Airbus A321XLR aircraft for slightly greater than every week. Already, although, the provider is planning to ship the plane throughout the Atlantic.
American on Thursday introduced Edinburgh would be the first abroad vacation spot for its brand-new, long-range, single-aisle jet.
It will open up a brand new European route for the provider from John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) to Edinburgh Airport (EDI) — making New York the second U.S. metropolis it is related to the Scottish capital in as a few years.
American Airways Airbus A321XLR
American’s new XLR options 20 of its newest-generation Flagship Suite seats within the business-class cabin, that are outfitted with sliding privateness doorways. Organized in a 1-1 configuration, these suites are just like the product the Fort Price-based provider debuted this summer time on its far bigger Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
The XLRs additionally sport 12 premium economic system recliners organized in a 2-2 configuration, complementing 123 seats in the primary cabin.
American has been anxious to get its fingers on these new planes since ordering 50 of the jets previous to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Far smaller and cheaper to function than the standard long-haul jet, American (and rivals) see these narrow-body plane as a approach to open up routes to smaller European cities and elsewhere.
“That is the suitable plane to function this route and with an elevated premium expertise for vacationers to get pleasure from,” Brian Znotins, American’s prime community planner, stated in an announcement saying the brand new JFK-EDI route.
Learn extra: Citi and American Airways launch new AAdvantage Globe Mastercard: Mid-tier perks and a 90,000-mile bonus
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American’s new Scotland route: What to know
American’s new flights between JFK and Scotland will launch March 8, 2026. It will be a seasonal route, so the nonstop service will run by Oct. 24, 2026.
These New York-to-Edinburgh flights will come practically a 12 months after the provider launched Scotland service from its Philadelphia Worldwide Airport (PHL) hub in Could.
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As a part of Thursday’s announcement, American additionally revealed these seasonal flights from Philly will kick off earlier in 2026 — and can begin March 28, operated with its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.
Scotland surge
Scotland has been an more and more well-liked vacation spot for vacationers and airways alike.
In 2025, carriers had been on observe to fly with 34% extra seats between the U.S. and EDI in contrast with 2024, in keeping with information from aviation analytics agency Cirium. That included American’s new Philly flights, and the nonstop service JetBlue launched from its Boston hub.
Extra home, worldwide XLR routes coming
Edinburgh, although, is much from the one vacation spot that American will serve with its new XLR.
In actual fact, it is not even the primary.
As different planes are available in, American has stated it is going to use the XLRs to section out the premium-heavy A321T configuration on its older A321 jets — a setup that presently consists of its legacy business-class product and Flagship First.
Nevertheless, the airline additionally has lengthy its eyes on extra locations throughout the Atlantic.
“We’re taking a look at new secondary [cities in] Spain, Portugal, U.Okay., something inside vary — France, Germany, Scandinavia,” Znotins, the highest community planner, stated in an interview final fall with TPG — whereas noting that, because of the provider’s Oneworld partnership with Iberia, “Spain could be a pure place.”
One other vacation spot he predicted a 12 months in the past?
Edinburgh, which in March will turn out to be American’s seventh new or returning European route for 2026.
Tickets (together with AAdvantage redemptions) will go on sale Nov. 3.
Learn extra: How one can redeem AAdvantage miles for max worth
How one can e-book American Airways flights with factors and miles
Vacationers hoping to e-book American flights with factors and miles can, in fact, redeem straight from their AAdvantage account.
Do not have sufficient miles? Citi’s ThankYou Rewards program now gives direct, 1:1 transfers to American for a few of its prime playing cards.
Plus, you’ll be able to e-book associate awards on American by different Oneworld alliance carriers. That features Atmos Rewards, the brand new joint loyalty program of Alaska Airways and Hawaiian Airways.
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