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Air Canada
IATA ICAO Callsign
AC ACA Air Canada
Founded1937
HubsMontréal-Trudeau Int'l Airport
Toronto Pearson Int'l Airport
Calgary International Airport
Vancouver Int'l Airport
Frequent-flyer programAeroplan
AllianceStar Alliance
Fleet size335 (plus 127 Orders and Options)
Destinations240
Parent companyACE Aviation Holdings Inc.
HeadquartersMontreal, Quebec
Key peopleRobert Milton (Chairman)
Montie Brewer (President & CEO)
Websitehttp://www.aircanada.com
Air Canada Boeing 767-300ER landing at London Heathrow Airport, England.
Air Canada Boeing 767-300ER

Air Canada is Canada's largest airline and flag carrier. The airline, founded in 1937, has its corporate headquarters in Montreal, Quebec. The airline provides scheduled and charter air transportation for passengers and cargo to over 240 destinations and vacation packages to over 90 destinations via Air Canada Vacations. Air Canada is currently the world's 11th largest airline and its largest hub is Toronto Pearson International Airport. Air Canada's parent company is ACE Aviation Holdings.

History

Trans-Canada Airlines

Trans-Canada Airlines (TCA) was created as a subsidiary of Canadian National Railway (CNR) on April 10, 1937. Passenger operations began on September 1, with a Lockheed 10A carrying two passengers and mail from Vancouver to Seattle. The company was headquartered in Winnipeg which was also the site of the national maintenance base. In 1949 federal policy dictated the headquarters move to Montreal. Later the maintenance base also moved east which was a significant blow to western Canada. In the 1950s Air Canada did pioneering work in the use of computer reservation systems with the development of the ReserVec system. By 1964 TCA had grown to become Canada's national airline and in 1964 Jean Chrétien submitted a private member's bill to change the name of the airline from Trans-Canada Airlines to Air Canada. This bill failed but it was resubmitted and passed, with the name change taking effect on January 1, 1965. In a late 1970s reorganization at CNR, Air Canada became an independent Crown corporation.

Air Canada in the 80's and 90's

In 1987, Air Canada became the first airline in the world to have a fleet-wide non-smoking policy[1], and in 1989 became completely privatised. Air Canada sold the enRoute card business to Diners Club in 1992. Air Canada is a founding member of the Star Alliance, which was launched in May 1997. The airline continues to code-share with Star Alliance members.

On September 2, 1998 pilots for Air Canada launched the company's first pilots' strike. At the end of 1999 the Canadian government relaxed some of the aviation regulations, aimed at creating a consolidation of the Canadian airline industry.

2000 and Beyond

In January 2000 Air Canada acquired Canada's second largest air carrier, Canadian Airlines, subsequently merging the latter's operations into its own. As a result Air Canada became the world's twelfth-largest commercial airline.

On April 1 2003, Air Canada filed for bankruptcy protection, emerging from this protection on September 30, 2004, 19 months later. ACE Aviation Holdings is the new parent company under which the reorganized Air Canada is held. As of January 2005, Air Canada employed 29,198 staff.

Current Modernization

2004-present Air Canada colour scheme on an Airbus A330-300
1990-2004 Air Canada colour scheme on an Airbus A330-300
File:Ac747-433-1.jpg
1964-1996 Air Canada colour scheme on an Boeing 747

In October 2004, the airline hired Celine Dion as part of the new promotional campaign as the airline unveiled new in-flight service products and new aircraft livery. "You And I", was written by an advertising executive working for Air Canada. The endorsement was not without controversy, however. At the time of the new branding, the airline had come out of bankruptcy protection just 18 months prior and thousands of workers were laid off in the restructuring. Union workers criticized that the airline could have spent money elsewhere to improve service and on employees. Management defended the celebrity endorsement and personal appearances as money well spent to boost corporate morale.

On October 31, 2004, the last Air Canada Boeing 747 flights landed in Toronto and in Montreal, ending more than 30 years of 747 service with the airline. The other planes were then shipped to Montreal to remove the paint. The remaining Boeing 747-400s which were previously in service have been superseded by the A340-500, which themselves are due for replacement. The A340-500 will be replaced by Boeing 777-200LR, which will begin deliveries in 2007. These will be used primarily on extra-long haul routes such as Toronto to Hong Kong.

On November 9, 2005, Air Canada announced that it would renew its widebody fleet over several years by purchasing a mixture of Boeing 777 and 787 Dreamliner aircraft.[1] The order included a firm order for 32 airframes(18 777s and 14 787s) plus options for 64 more (18 777s and 46 787s), totalling 96 airframes. The first 777s are to begin arriving in 2006 and the first 787s in 2010. Among the 777s to be delivered to Air Canada are freighter versions, making Air Canada one of the launch customers of the 777 Freighter along with Air France-KLM. All of Air Canada's 777 aircraft (both -200LR and -300ER) will be powered by the GE90-115B engine, the world's most powerful jet engine. Their 787 aircraft will be powered by the GEnx engine.[2] The order is a mixture of 777-200LRs and 777-300ERs, and 787-8s and 787-9s.

With the purchase of 777s, Air Canada will gradually phase out all A340s, including the older A340-300s and the new A340-500s. In addition, the Boeing 787 will gradually replace the current Boeing 767 and A330-300. Air Canada has also begun to take delivery of Embraer 175 and 190 aircraft which will be used to expand their domestic and transborder routes. Older Airbus A319//A320 will be replaced with some of these new aircraft as delivery permits (Mostly Embraer 190). [3]

In November 2005 Air Canada stopped serving hot meals to all economy class seats for flights within Canada and the United States (except for certain Vancouver-Toronto flights inbound/outbound to Asia as well as Toronto-Los Angeles flights and other nonstop flights within North America longer than 5 hours, where hot meals are still served in economy). A selection of cold foods has been made available for purchase on those flights via the pay-as-you-go service "Onboard Cafe/Café en vol".

Air Canada has recently made several efforts to decrease fuel burn by reducing aircraft weight:

  • In November 2005, the paint and primer were removed from C-GDSP (a Boeing 767-233ER, tailfin no 613). However, the result was not considered aesthetically pleasing and the aircraft was repainted in late May/early June 2006.
  • Traditional blankets and pillows have been replaced by inflatable plastic pillow and blanket kits on domestic short and medium haul routes.
  • Traditional wine bottles have been replaced by tetra-pack containers for in-flight service.
  • In 2006, the airline began offering customers a modest rebate (termed the "GO Discount") in exchange for foregoing their checked baggage allowance.

Destinations

Air Canada operates flights to 240 destinations in Canada, The USA, Latin America, Europe, Australia and Asia.

Further information: Air Canada destinations

New Routes

On June 1st, 2007, Air Canada will start non-stop service to Rome-Fiumicino from Montreal-Trudeau, with 7 weekly flights. Air Canada is contemplating whether to start more new services to other European destinations from Montreal-Trudeau in the near future.

In April 2005, Air Canada said it will start operating a non-stop service between Vancouver and Guangzhou, China in the summer of 2007 with the delivery of new aircraft. The route may be operated by the B777 or the A340.

There are also rumors that Air Canada will begin Flying Edmonton Intl- Frankfurt during the summer of 2007 with either the 767-300ER or A330-300 jet. This has yet to be confirmed.

Fleet

Current Air Canada Fleet

The Air Canada fleet consists of 200 of the following aircraft (as of October 2006) [4]

Air Canada Fleet
Aircraft No. of Aircraft Seats Joined Fleet Notes
Airbus A319-100 45 120 (J14/Y106) 1996 New interiors to be installed December 2006 - April 2007. Will be replace by Embraer 190.
Airbus A320-200 50 140 (J20/Y120) 1989 New interiors to be installed April 2006 - December 2006. Will be replace by Embraer 190.
Airbus A321-200 10 166 (J24/Y142) 2001 New interiors to be installed April 2007 - July 2007.
Airbus A330-300 8 274 (J42/Y232) 1999 Used on medium range long haul routes. New interiors to be installed February 2007 - May 2007. Will be replaced by B787-800 and Boeing 777-300ER.
Airbus A340-300 10 286 (J30/Y256) 1995 Used on long haul routes. Will not be renewed with the new interiors. Will be replaced by B787-800 and Boeing 777-300ER.
Airbus A340-500 2 267 (J42/Y225) 2004 Used on Toronto-Hong Kong route only. Will not be renewed with the new interiors. Will be replaced by B777-200LR.
Boeing 767-200/200ER 12 207 (J24/Y183) 1983 Used on long range Canadian and American routes and some medium range long haul routes. New interiors to be installed October 2006 - February 2007. Will be replaced by B787-800 after 2010.
Boeing 767-300ER 33 203 (J30/Y173)
213 (J25/Y188)
212 (J30/Y182)
212 (J25/Y187)		 1993 Used on medium range long haul routes. New interiors to be installed May 2006 - July 2007. Will be replaced by B787-800 after 2010.
Embraer 175 15 73 (J9/Y64) 2005 Used on Canadian and American routes. New interiors installed.
Embraer 190 15 93 (J9/Y84) 2006 Used on Canadian and American routes. New interiors installed.

In March 2006 Air Canada's fleet was on average 9.8 years old.

Orders

Air Canada orders fleet consists of 63 of the following aircraft (including 1 on lease) and options and purchase rights for 64 more aircraft totaling 127. (as of October 2006)

Air Canada Order Fleet
Aircraft No. of Aircraft Options Seats Notes
Boeing 777-200LR 5 18 Will eventually replace all Airbus A340s. Arriving in 2007 and 2008.
Boeing 777-300ER 12 Replacement for Airbus A330 and A340 and Boeing 747-400 on high capacity long haul routes. Arriving in 2007 and 2008, including 1 on lease.
Boeing 777F 2 Launch customer along with Air France-KLM. Arriving in 2009.
Boeing 787-8 14 46 Will eventually replace all Airbus A330s and Boeing 767s. Arriving in 2010 and beyond.
Embraer 190 30 93 (J9/Y84) Will be used to expand their domestic and transborder routes.

Jazz Fleet

Air Canada's Subsidiary, Air Canada Jazz has a separate fleet consisting of 135 of the following aircraft (as of October 2006):

Main article: Air Canada Jazz

Jazz Dash 8-300
Air Canada Jazz Fleet
Aircraft No. of Aircraft Seats Notes
Bombardier CRJ 100ER 25 Y50
Bombardier CRJ 200ER 33 Y50
Bombardier CRJ 705 15 75 (J10/Y65) Features PTVs at all seats.
Bombardier Dash 8 100/200 36 Y37 Twin-turboprop
Bombardier Dash 8 300 26 Y48-50 Twin-turboprop

Last Air Canada CRJ 100ER flights operated April 30 2006. All of Air Canada’s CRJs were transferred to Air Canada Jazz.

Historic fleet

Here is a list of planes that Air Canada has operated from 1937-today. Click on link for a photo.

File:Air Canada 747-400.jpg
Air Canada Boeing 747 one of 20 retired in 2004.
File:Ac727.jpg
Air Canada's Boeing 727s were retired in 1992.
Type Used Picture
Avro Lancastrian 1943-1947 [5]
BAe 146-200 1990-2005 [6]
Boeing 727-200 1974-1992 [7]
Boeing 737-200 1976-2004 [8]
Boeing 747-100 1971-1998 [9]
Boeing 747-200 Combi 1975-1999 [10][11]
Boeing 747-400 1990-2003 [12][13]
Boeing 747-400 Combi 1990-2004 [14][15]
Bombardier CRJ 100ER 1994-2006 now with AC Jazz
Bristol 31 1953-1955 [16]
Canadair North Star 1946-1961 [17]
Douglas DC-3 1945-1963 [18]
Douglas DC-8-40 -50 -60 -70 1960-1983 [19]
Douglas DC-9-30 1966-2002 [20]
Douglas DC-10 From Canadian Airlines 1971-2001 [21]
Fokker F28 1986-2004 [22]
Lockheed Super Constellation 1954-1963 [23]
Lockheed L-1011 -1 -15 -100 -500 1973-1996 [24]
Lockheed Lodestar 1941-1949 [25]
Lockheed Model 10 Electra 1937-1941 [26]
Lockheed Model 14 Super Electra 1941-1949 [27]
Stearman 1937-1939 [28]
Vickers Vanguard 1961-1972 [29]
Vickers Viscount 1955-1974 [30]

Incidents and accidents

Cabin Classes & Boarding Passes

Air Canada offers two classes of service on majority of its flights, but three class service is offered on some European flights (Executive First, Premium Economy, and Economy). Air Canada Jazz offers single class service on majority of its flights, while Business Class is offered on some routes using the CRJ-705.

Executive First (International First/Business Class)

Executive First is Air Canada’s international first class ‘for the price of business class’. Executive First currently features on B767-300, A330-300, A340-300 and A340-500 aircraft. Seats are electronic lie flat reclining to 151 degrees, with a width of 21” and a pitch of 57-60”. The exception is the A340-500 which features electronic flat beds reclining to 180 degrees, with a width of 21” and a pitch of 63”. The seat configuration is 2-2-2 on all aircraft except the 767-300 which, depending on the tail fin, is either 1-2-2 or 2-2-1. Personal AVOD (Audio and video on demand) is available on A330-300 and A340-500 aircraft, with personal DVD players being offered on the B767-300. Some Boeing 767-300ER offer PTVs but without AVOD. Starting in September 2006, all long-haul aircraft except the A340s will be refitted internally with new suites with fully lie flat beds in a 1-1-1 configuration, personal AVOD and a seat pitch of 75”. The new cabin will look similar to Virgin Atlantic's New Upper Class product.

Executive Class (North American First Class)

Executive Class is Air Canada’s North American first class product. Seat configuration currently varies between 1-2, 2-2 and 2-2-2. Recline is around 120-130 degrees, a width of 18-21” and a pitch of 37-39”. The upgrade on North American aircraft has commenced, with some A320 and all Embraer aircraft having already been refitted with AVOD and the new seats. After this extreme make-over, all internatiional and domestic aircraft will feature PTV's in all classes of service. The make-over is expected to be completed by late 2007.

Premium Economy Class

Premium Economy is offered on international B767-200 aircraft and some B767-300s on routes mostly to Europe. The cabin is similar to the North American Executive Class cabin. Seats are pitched at 38-44” with a recline of 18” in a 2-2-2 configuration. Main screen entertainment is currently offered. New interiors with digital 8.9" touch screen personal entertainment monitors are being introduced with new seats and interiors. This X-treme Makeover project should be completed by late 2007.

Economy Class

Economy Class (previously named Hospitality Class) features on all aircraft. Seats are pitched 30-34” with a width of 17-17.2” and a recline to around 6". Main screen entertainment is offered on all but the A340-500 international aircraft, and the Embraer 175/190 fleet. Large 8.9" touch screens are being installed at every seat with new interiors on all North American and international aircraft. This personal entertainment system features AVOD programming and video games at every seat. The XM (X-treme Makeover) project to introduce new seats and AVOD has commenced and should be completed by late 2007.

Boarding Passes

The letter on a boarding pass corresponds to the named classes shown on the website, a rough breakdown as listed on the 2007 Aeroplan upgrade certificates follows: Tango (R, I, N, G, P, E, T), Tango Plus (B, H, V, Q , L, A), Latitude (M, U), Latitude Plus (Y) and Executive (J, C). It helps to know this mapping when booking through non - Air Canada agents.

Services

In-Flight Entertainment

On most of Air Canada's aircraft in Economy Class, there is a main screen (with overhead TVs on the ceiling above every few seats and on the bulkheads) which broadcast recorded CBC news and Hollywood movies. On the A340-500 and Embraer aircraft, every Economy Class passenger has an AVOD system, which is powered by a custom design Linux variant. Passengers can learn facts and figures of cities and where they are using the GPS system installed on the plane. Furthermore, they can watch videos on demand, play games and listen to the Air Canada radio channels. Air Canada is now launching their new state-of-the-art Thales i4500 in-flight entertainment system on their entire fleet of aircraft. This in-seat entertainment system, which is being introduced fleet-wide (except the A340-500), features 8.9-inch wide digital seat-back monitors and touch-screen controls offering AVOD programming and video games in every seat. The X-treme Makeover project (Project XM) will coincide with the new seats and interiors and is expected to be finished by late 2007.

In-Flight Food

Air Canada offers a variety of meals on intercontinental routes, depending on seat class, destination and flight length. They do not have food on most Canadian and US flights, but do offer hot meals and snacks on flights longer than five hours. A selection of cold food has been made for purchase on-board, paid in either US or Canadian dollars.

Maintenance

Air Canada uses and provides maintenence services through Air Canada Technical Services (ACTS).

Ground Handling

Air Canada uses and provides ground handling through Air Canada Ground Handling Services (ACGHS).

Subsidiaries and Partners

Aeroplan

Air Canada Cargo

Main Article: Air Canada Cargo

  • Air Canada Cargo Limited Partnership offers cargo services on domestic and transborder flights, utilizing the cargo capacity on aircraft operated by Air Canada and Jazz on domestic and transborder routes. Air Canada offers cargo services on its international passenger flights and also uses chartered, all-freighter aircraft for Canada - Europe and Canada - Asia services. (Subsidiary of ACE Aviation Holdings)

Air Canada Ground Handling Services

  • ACGHS provides passenger handling services to Air Canada, Jazz and a number of other carriers with a primary focus on Canadian stations. Services covered include "above and below the wing" passenger and baggage handling services and ancillary services such as de-icing, ground support and equipment maintenance. (Subsidiary of ACE Aviation)

Air Canada Jazz (Jazz Air LP)

File:Jazz logo.gif

In 2001, Air Canada consolidated Air BC, Air Nova, Air Ontario and Canadian Regional Airlines into Air Canada Jazz. ACE Aviation Holdings is a major shareholder. In early February 2006, a portion of Jazz Air LP was spun off by ACE Aviation Holdings as an Income trust on the Toronto Stock Exchange. (Subsidiary of ACE Aviation)

Air Canada Jetz

File:Logo acjetz.gif
  • Launched in 2002, Air Canada Jetz is a charter service for sports teams and professionals. Air Canada Jetz uses A320 aircraft in an all business class configuration.

Air Canada Technical Services

  • ACTS is a full-service Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) organization that provides airframe, engine and component maintenance and various ancillary services to more than 100 customers. Major bases are in Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver. (Subsidiary of ACE Aviation)

Air Canada Vacations

  • Air Canada Vacations offers a wide selection of sun, cruise and leisure vacation packages to the most popular destinations in the Caribbean, Florida, Hawaii, Mexico, Las Vegas, Central and South America, and Asia. (Subsidiary of ACE Aviation)

Partners

File:StarAllianceLogo.png

Code Sharing

Air Canada codeshares with several airlines like United, Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines and other airlines in the Star Alliance.

Former Subsidiaries

File:ACATango.jpg
File:Air Canada Zip Airlines Logo.gif
  • In 2001, Air Canada launched Air Canada Tango, which offered no-frills service and lower fares between major cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and also to some holiday destinations such as Fort Lauderdale. Tango aircraft were painted with the Air Canada design but in purple. It is thought that Tango was intended to be Air Canada's vehicle for competing against the low cost carriers Canada 3000 and WestJet. The Tango service was dissolved in 2004. Air Canada now calls their lowest fare class "Tango" as an homage to the low-cost experiment.
  • In 2002, Air Canada launched Zip, a discount airline to compete directly with Westjet on routes in Western Canada. Zip operated as a separate airline with its own staff and brightly painted aircraft. It also was disbanded in 2004.

Other Information

  • Air Canada was one of the first airlines to have its entire fleet of unpressurized aircraft equipped with fixed oxygen systems for use by flight crew and passengers, using the rebreathing bag principle.
  • Air Canada was the first airline to operate a jet freighter with the introduction of the DC-8.
  • Air Canada became the first major airline with an all turbine fleet which allowed an increase in productivity and reduction in maintenance costs.
  • Air Canada became the first airline in the world to introduce a system-wide Non-Smoking policy.
  • Air Canada in 1953 became the first airline to operate a Computer reservations system with remote terminals called ReserVec.
  • Air Canada was the first airline in Canada to operate the Airbus A320, and the first North American carrier to operate the A319, the first of which was introduced on the Toronto-Boston route.
  • Air Canada became the first airline in the world to offer all its customers telephones at arm's reach on all of its aircraft.
  • The Electronic ticket made its debut in Canada when Air Canada began testing the service on selected Canadian routes. It was phased in across Canada and on transborder routes during 1996.
  • Air Canada became the first major airline in Canada to offer E-mail sell-offs with AC WEBSAVER.
  • Air Canada became the first commercial airline to enable passengers to send and receive e-mail on their laptops while in flight, as well as surf websites.
  • Air Canada was the first, and continues to be the only North American operator of the A340-300 and A340-500.
  • During the mid-1990s, Air Canada repainted an Airbus A319 in the Trans-Canada retro livery.
  • Air Canada is the official carrier of the Toronto Raptors basketball team. One of its Airbus A320s was repainted to honour the team with the raptor dinosaur logo on an all-black fuselage, earning it the nickname "Dino-bus".
  • Air Canada unveiled a new aircraft colour scheme, and blue uniforms, on 19 October 2004. A Boeing 767-300 was painted in a silvery colour with a blue tint. The green tail has been replaced with the same silvery paint, but retains a version of the red maple leaf.
  • Air Canada was the winner of Best North American Airline in the 2005 World Airline Awards
  • Air Canada is the creator of the Dreams Take Flight program which flies children with special needs to Disneyland for a day.
  • On September 18, 2006, Air Canada and ITA Software finalized the contract in which ITA will build a new reservations management system for the carrier, replacing the antiquated RES III system from IBM. [31] (pdf)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Air Canada.
File:Air Canada 747-400.jpg
Air Canada Boeing 747-400 Combi. Air Canada has retired its 747 fleet
File:Ac727.jpg
Boeing 727 Landing at Montreal Trudeau,1991
Jazz Dash 8s at Calgary International
File:Air Canada B767 C-FVNM large.jpg
Air Canada DC-8 at Montreal Trudeau
Air Canada Airbus A319 at Calgary International

References

  1. ^ "Aircraft General Terms Agreement between The Boeing Company and Air Canada", SEDAR (Note: 18MB PDF document)
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