The advancement of technology in the aerospace industry has opened up new possibilities for airlines to expand their route networks. With improved engines and airframes, carriers can now fly routes that were previously deemed unprofitable for widebody aircraft. This includes transatlantic flights, with long-range narrowbodies now able to traverse the Atlantic Ocean.

In June, 16 different airlines will operate direct flights across the Atlantic, connecting North America (including Canada, the United States, and Greenland) with multiple European cities and major capitals. These flights will be operated by single-aisle aircraft, which are becoming increasingly popular in the industry. Let’s take a closer look at the types of aircraft being used for these transatlantic journeys.

Aircraft Types

According to data from Cirium’s Diio Mi airline planning tool, the most popular aircraft for these routes is the Airbus A320neo family, which includes the A321neo and its derivatives. Out of the 755 weekly departures scheduled from North America to Europe with narrowbody aircraft, 432 will be operated by the A320neo family. The second most popular aircraft is the Boeing 737 MAX, with 174 weekly flights. The third is the aging 757, and surprisingly, the least popular aircraft for these routes is the 737 Next Generation (NG). This is because the airlines operating these routes with the 737 NG are based on islands in the Atlantic, such as Greenland and Saint Pierre and Miquelon.

Canadian Connections

Out of the 16 airlines flying single-aisle aircraft across the Atlantic, three are based in Canada: Air Canada, Air Transat, and WestJet. Air Transat is the only one with Airbus narrowbodies, specifically 19 A321LR aircraft. The other two airlines exclusively use the 737 MAX 8 for their transatlantic routes, with Air Canada only operating three routes and WestJet offering a more extensive schedule with 11 routes.

European Airlines Flying Across the Pond

In continental Europe, five carriers offer single-aisle transatlantic flights: Aer Lingus, Iberia, La Compagnie, SAS, and TAP Air Portugal. Aer Lingus and Iberia, both owned by International Airlines Group (IAG), are the only ones with the new A321XLR aircraft. La Compagnie stands out with its all-business class cabin on its A321LRs, and SAS and TAP Air Portugal also offer transatlantic routes with their A321LRs.

United States’ Boeing 757 Focus

In the US, three operators have transatlantic flights with narrowbody aircraft: Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, and United Airlines. Delta only operates 757-200 flights to Reykjavík Keflavik International Airport and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, while JetBlue offers flights to London Heathrow Airport and London Gatwick Airport.