With elbows-tourism flourishing, Air Canada has begun a major upgrade program on its regional fleet. Under the initiative, 25 De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft operated for Air Canada Express by Jazz Aviation LP (Jazz) will undergo a full cabin redesign to install new seating, new interiors and, on select aircraft initially, flying from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, free Wi-Fi.
“This investment in innovative seating, refreshed cabin interiors, and industry-leading onboard Wi-Fi reflects our shared commitment to safety, operational excellence, and delivering exceptional customer service,” said Doug Clarke, president of Jazz Aviation, which is Air Canada’s largest regional partner and operator of Air Canada Express service to Toronto City (YTZ) and over 70 other destinations across Canada and the U.S.
Air Canada’s refurbishment of the Canadian made, Jazz Dash 8-400 fleet will occur in phases through 2026. The major elements of the program include:
Inflight Wi-Fi at Billy Bishop
Beginning in October, Air Canada will be the first airline to offer fast, free Wi-Fi to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport travellers. The service providing high-quality Internet means customers will now have gate-to-gate connectivity while travelling between the city airport and Montréal or Ottawa, the country’s most heavily used corridors for business travel.
It is the first time Wi-Fi has been made available on a De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft type anywhere in the world.
The installation of Wi-Fi on the balance of the Dash 8-400 fleet is being determined, and the airline has already fitted 97% of its mainline Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge aircraft with next-generation connectivity systems for Wi-Fi sponsored by Bell. It is tracking to complete this fleet-wide transformation in 2026.
New seating
Twenty-five Air Canada Express Dash 8-400 operated by Jazz will be equipped with next generation, well-padded, ergonomic seats from Expliseat. The seats will feature new branding and design language expressed through the seat’s dress cover. All seats will include a seatback multi-use device holder for tablets and phones, as well as a table tray. The installation of the new seating has an expected completion date for the program in mid-2026. Each aircraft will have 78 seats, and pitch will be unchanged.
Cabin interior redesign
The cabins of these same 25 Dash 8-400s will be upgraded to a new standard reflective of Air Canada’s mainline aircraft interiors. The design incorporates colours, textures and tones of those found in nature in Canada.
“Air Canada Express is at the heart of how we serve Canadian communities. It brings people together, whether connecting families across the country, or linking businesses to the world through our global network,” said Air Canada executive VP Mark Nasr. “By bringing many of the design details and comforts of our largest jets to the Canadian-made Dash 8-400, even our shortest flights can feel special.”
If this article was shared with you by a friend or colleague, you may enjoy receiving your own copy of Travel Industry Today with the latest travel news and reviews each weekday morning. It’s absolutely free – just CLICK HERE.