Single-aisle aircraft are becoming increasingly common for transatlantic flights between the US, Canada, and Europe. The rise in narrowbody usage is attributed to more aircraft deliveries, which have opened new opportunities and allowed airlines to adjust existing routes. Currently, one in seven flights on these routes uses a narrowbody aircraft.
Airlines such as Iberia and Aer Lingus have introduced the A321XLR, contributing to a record number of take-offs this summer. During the third quarter of 2025, there will be an average of 107 daily departures using narrowbodies from North America to Europe. This marks a 10% increase compared to the previous record set in Q3 2024.
Fifteen airlines operate over 120 routes using single-aisle planes between North America and Europe. The distribution of flights is nearly equal between carriers from both regions, with North American operators accounting for 49% and European carriers for 51%.
Icelandair leads with the most departures in Q3, aided by its use of A321LRs on routes like Keflavik-Nashville starting in April. United Airlines follows but has not surpassed its record from Q3 2012 when it heavily utilized the Boeing 757. JetBlue is introducing new routes such as Boston-Edinburgh and Boston-Madrid while reducing others like New York JFK-London Gatwick.
Air Transat plans two new long-haul A321-operated services from Toronto-Berlin and Montreal-Valencia while cutting Quebec City-London Gatwick and Montreal-Amsterdam. Aer Lingus expands with multiple new routes following its acquisition of the A321XLR.
Other notable operators include TAP Air Portugal with its Porto-Boston route replacing Azores Airlines, WestJet launching Halifax-Paris CDG among others, and Iberia beginning transatlantic narrowbody operations last November.
