Air Canada's growing fleet of Airbus A321XLR aircraft, powered by Pratt & Whitney's new GTF Advantage engines, is being closely watched as a test of whether the engine maker has resolved the durability problems that have affected its geared turbofan programme in recent years, according to a report by Simple Flying.

The airline took delivery of its first PW1100G GTF Advantage-powered A321XLR in April, followed by a second in May and a third in August, as part of a 30-aircraft order that also includes 14 options. Deliveries are scheduled to continue through 2029.

By the end of March 2026, Airbus had received more than 500 orders for the A321XLR worldwide, according to the report.

The aircraft is intended to fill a role once occupied by the Boeing 757 and partly overlaps with the role planned for Boeing's since-shelved New Midsize Airplane concept.

Pratt & Whitney's GTF engines have faced repeated groundings and accelerated inspections in recent years due to durability issues traced to powdered-metal contamination in engine components.

The GTF Advantage variant is intended to address those problems, and the report said the manufacturer is hoping the new deliveries to Air Canada mark a turning point for the programme's reputation.

Other airlines are said to be monitoring Air Canada's experience with the GTF Advantage as they weigh future engine choices between the Pratt & Whitney option and the rival CFM International LEAP-1A, which also powers the A320neo family.

The report noted that it remains too early to assess the new engines' long-term reliability, given how recently the aircraft entered service.

Source: Simple Flying