American Airlines' Mystery Ghost Flights Across the Atlantic

American Airlines is operating 20 round-trip transatlantic flights between Philadelphia and Edinburgh this month, completely empty of passengers and cargo. This unusual operation is in preparation for the arrival of the longer-range Airbus A321XLR. To train pilots for transatlantic operations, the airline needs check airmen experienced on Airbus jets, requiring this costly training exercise. The flights, using a brand new Airbus A321neo, are estimated to cost over a million dollars, sparking debate about training methods and cost-effectiveness. The flights are essentially a massive training exercise to certify pilots on transatlantic operations with the Airbus A321neo, in anticipation of the upcoming A321XLR.