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Air Data News • Ricardo Meier

Airbus delivers first A321XLR to Air Canada, enabling long-haul narrowbody network expansion

Air Canada has taken delivery of the first Airbus A321XLR (C-GXLR), the initial unit in a 30-aircraft order leased via SMBC Aviation Capital. The arrival marks a key step in the carrier’s long-range narrowbody fleet renewal and plans for thinner transatlantic and transcontinental routes.

2026-04-24T09:22:47.323524-07:00

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Shohin Airlines (Tajikistan) to acquire Airbus A320neo-family aircraft

2026-04-24T01:07:17.038276-07:00

AirInsight

LOT defends A220 order as “right market fit,” arguing growth and capacity underpin long-term network strategy despite engine rel

2026-04-24T00:56:01.704711-07:00

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Philippine Airlines: no A350-1000 or A320neo-family delivery deferrals in 2026

2026-04-23T16:49:40.952540-07:00

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Airbus delivers first A321XLR to Air Canada, enabling long-haul narrowbody network expansion Air Canada has taken delivery of the first Airbus A321XLR (C-GXLR), the initial unit in a 30-aircraft order leased via SMBC Aviation Capital. The arrival marks a key step in the carrier’s long-range narrowbody fleet renewal and plans for thinner transatlantic and transcontinental routes.

2026-04-24T09:22:47.323524-07:00

Airbus delivers first A321XLR to Air Canada, enabling long-haul narrowbody network expansion

ch-aviation

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Shohin Airlines (Tajikistan) to acquire Airbus A320neo-family aircraft Tajikistan’s Shohin Airlines plans to acquire Airbus A320neo-family jets, positioning the carrier to renew its narrowbody fleet with a next-generation Airbus model. The move underscores continued A320neo-family uptake among operators beyond the largest global carriers.

2026-04-24T01:07:17.038276-07:00

Shohin Airlines (Tajikistan) to acquire Airbus A320neo-family aircraft

AirInsight

LOT defends A220 order as “right market fit,” arguing growth and capacity underpin long-term network strategy despite engine rel LOT Polish Airlines is pushing back on concerns around engine reliability tied to its A220 order, framing the decision as a “right market fit” for its growth plans. The airline’s position links the A220 to longer-term capacity needs and network development priorities, despite ongoing scrutiny of performance risk.

2026-04-24T00:56:01.704711-07:00

LOT defends A220 order as “right market fit,” arguing growth and capacity underpin long-term network strategy despite engine rel

ch-aviation

Philippine Airlines: no A350-1000 or A320neo-family delivery deferrals in 2026 Philippine Airlines says it will not defer five Airbus A350-1000 deliveries in 2026, nor four A320-200/A321-200N deliveries, expecting aircraft to arrive roughly on time. The statement, attributed to president Richard Nuttall, was made during an on-stage interview at Aviation Festival Asia in Singapore in late March 2026.

2026-04-23T16:49:40.952540-07:00

Philippine Airlines: no A350-1000 or A320neo-family delivery deferrals in 2026

DefenseNews.com

European air forces set performance benchmarks for Future Combat Air System next-gen fighter development Three European air forces have approved performance benchmarks that will be used to narrow design options as the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) moves through subsequent development stages. The milestone sets clearer yardsticks for platform trade-offs at a critical point in the program’s evolution.

2026-04-23T15:24:31.188631-07:00

European air forces set performance benchmarks for Future Combat Air System next-gen fighter development

Runway Girl

Gilat targets Airbus line-fit catalog approval for electronically steered antenna hardware Gilat Satellite Networks says it is optimistic its electronically steerable antenna (ESA) hardware will become “linefit offerable” as Airbus moves toward a more modular aircraft configuration. The outcome would position Gilat’s multi-orbit inflight connectivity terminals for easier OEM integration rather than retrofit-only pathways.

2026-04-23T08:49:54.576111-07:00

Gilat targets Airbus line-fit catalog approval for electronically steered antenna hardware

Paddle Your Own Kanoo

Packed Airbus A320 returns to Malta after captain discovers first officer still in training A Malta-to-Paris Charles de Gaulle Airbus A320 departed with a first officer who was still in training, according to the report. The captain realized the mismatch only after takeoff, prompting an unscheduled return to Malta.

2026-04-23T08:25:49.933106-07:00

Packed Airbus A320 returns to Malta after captain discovers first officer still in training

AirInsight

Airbus and Delta deploy Descent Profile Optimisation (DSO) across 270-aircraft fleet to cut fuel burn and emissions Airbus has rolled out Descent Profile Optimisation (DPO/DSO) across Delta’s Airbus fleet of 270 aircraft, spanning A319/A320/A321 and A330 families. The system targets smarter, more efficient descent profiles, with expected reductions in fuel burn and operating emissions, alongside lower operating costs.

2026-04-23T08:25:13.426322-07:00

Airbus and Delta deploy Descent Profile Optimisation (DSO) across 270-aircraft fleet to cut fuel burn and emissions

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Airbus News

Airbus delivers first A321XLR to Air Canada, enabling long-haul narrowbody network expansion

Shohin Airlines (Tajikistan) to acquire Airbus A320neo-family aircraft

LOT defends A220 order as “right market fit,” arguing growth and capacity underpin long-term network strategy despite engine rel

Philippine Airlines: no A350-1000 or A320neo-family delivery deferrals in 2026

News Timeline