Quantcast

American Airlines conducts empty A321neo transatlantic flights for pilot training

Routes & Networks Latest: Rolling Daily Updates (W/C Sept. 22, 2025)
First new Qantas Airbus jets come with one toilet for every 90 economy passengers – worse than Jetstar, Scoot and Ryanair
Breeze Airways becomes the first new US flag carrier in a decade — just as rival Spirit fights its 2nd bankruptcy
Airport runway close calls spur hopes for wider adoption of cockpit alert technology
Family sues American Airlines over deadly crash near National Airport
United Airlines briefly grounds all flights in US, Canada for second time in 2 months
2025 Air Canada flight attendants strike
Spirit Airlines preparing to furlough one-third of its flight attendants
‘Hypocrisy’ and ‘blackmail’: Ryanair’s feud with Spain
Exclusive: Turkey's surprise Air Europa deal came down to one key thing: control
Major airline launches exciting new route from Scotland to popular US location
Airlines fear carbon tax as flagship climate scheme develops holes
Ryanair scraps three Vienna routes, demands lower taxes and fees
Turkish Airlines has no intention of raising stake in Spain's Air Europa, chairman says
US lawmakers want Trump to reinstate delay compensation plan for air travelers
IATA pushes to raise international pilot retirement age to 67
US orders Delta and Aeromexico to dissolve their partnership over fairness concerns in Mexico
Southwest’s New Wheelchair Policy Will Require Passengers to Remove 1 Item Before Boarding — What to Know
Aviation expansion: IndiGo to start direct Mumbai-Copenhagen flights from Oct 8; marks entry into Nordics - The Times of India
Major change for ALL Aer Lingus passengers flying from busy airport to offer 'modern and streamlined' experience
Southwest Airlines adds Sonoma County in California expansion - The Points Guy
Routes & Networks Latest: Rolling Daily Updates (W/C Sept. 8, 2025)
Delta Sees Record Premium Seats in '26, Main Cabin Flat or Down
Southwest requiring removal of batteries from mobility devices before boarding
Qantas’ milestone move for huge, new planes
EasyJet to launch 11 new flight routes from small UK airport named the best in Europe
Tycoon unveils £25 billion rival Heathrow expansion plan
Boeing and Airbus ground green plane projects
50 New Routes Launching In September 2025
JetBlue's Network Shake-Up: Its Top 10 Routes This Month
American Airlines conducts empty A321neo transatlantic flights for pilot training
Policy
Webp 3
Robert D. Isom, CEO and President | American Airlines

American Airlines has been operating an unusual series of flights between Philadelphia International Airport and Edinburgh Airport this month, using an Airbus A321neo that is typically configured for domestic service. These flights have not carried passengers or cargo; instead, they serve as crew training missions.

Paulina Wykurz, an American Airlines Supervisor at Edinburgh Airport, stated on LinkedIn: "This is a special charter flight. The purpose of this flight is to allow the pilots to complete their certified training on the aircraft type. We’re lucky enough to host our second aircraft here in Edinburgh."

According to data from Flightradar24, the first of these flights took place on August 4. The aircraft involved, registered as N471AN, departed Philadelphia at 21:26 and arrived in Edinburgh at 08:30 the following morning. The eastbound training flights are designated AA9805, while the westbound return legs are labeled AA9806.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

These flights are part of a broader initiative by American Airlines to train Check Airmen who will then certify other pilots on this aircraft type. This training effort is linked to plans for opening an Airbus A321XLR base at New York JFK Airport, where over 40 pilots are expected to operate transatlantic routes with the new long-range narrowbody jets.

While these A321neo training operations are ongoing, American Airlines continues its regular scheduled passenger service between Philadelphia and Edinburgh using Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. In 2025, most transatlantic flights on this route use the smaller Boeing 787-8 model, with some operated by the larger 787-9 variant. The daily passenger services resumed in May and have contributed to record seat capacity between Scotland and North America this year.

Per aviation analytics firm Cirium, scheduled passenger flights from Philadelphia to Edinburgh (AA278) depart at 19:20 and arrive at 07:10 local time. The return flight (AA279) departs Edinburgh at 11:35 and arrives back in Philadelphia at 13:55.

American Airlines is a full-service carrier founded in 1926 and is a member of the oneworld alliance. Its CEO is Robert Isom.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Flying Food Group, Inc. has announced the recipients of its 2025 scholarships, with all five applicants receiving awards this year.

Oct 23, 2025

Dnata, a global provider of air and travel services, has entered into a joint venture with Azerbaijan’s Silk Way Group to launch ground handling and cargo operations at Alat International Airport, located in the Alat Free Economic Zone in Baku.

Oct 22, 2025

Delta Air Lines has announced the release of version 7.5 of its mobile app, introducing new features aimed at making travel planning and management easier for customers during the holiday season.

Oct 22, 2025

The Fair Work Commission has ruled that a former employee of dnata Airport Services was unfairly dismissed and awarded $36,468.39 in compensation.

Oct 22, 2025

The 13th Annual Breast Care International Walk for the Cure took place in Kumasi, Ghana, drawing around 30,000 participants, including survivors, healthcare professionals, students, traditional leaders, and advocates.

Oct 22, 2025

The Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has announced the closure of Terminal 5 to allow for a significant redevelopment.

Oct 22, 2025