Air Canada Airlines

  About Air Canada

Air Canada is perceived to be the largest airline in Canada and is also the flag carrier of the country. The stature is with respect to fleet size and passenger traffic. Founded in 1937, Air Canada provides a scheduled air transport as well as cargo to about 207 international destinations. The airline is recognised as one of the founding members of Star Alliance. The airline's headquarters is located in Montreal, Quebec. Meanwhile, its hub is at Toronto Pearson International Airport. A subsidiary of Air Canada to cater to domestic routes of the country is Air Canada Express. Originally started as Trans-Canada Airlines (TCA), the airline was founded in 1936 by the Canadian federal government. The first transcontinental flight operations of TCA commenced in 1938. Much later, in 1965, Trans-Canada Airlines was renamed to Air Canada, after the airlines received a government approval for the same. Although it was wholly owned by the government, in the 1980s, with the deregulation of the Canadian airline market, Air Canada was eventually privatised in 1988.

In 2000, Air Canada obtained the airline's largest competition in the aviation market, Canadian Airlines. The airlines filed for bankruptcy protection back in 2003, following which it once again emerged after some reorganisation of the management. After Air Canada's privatisation in 1989, the airlines are now listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Air Canada Public Participation Act (ACPPA) limits the ownership of Air Canada's voting interests, especially by non-residents of the country. To ensure that Air Canada's articles sustain its Canadian roots, the Canada Transportation Act has added some restrictions in terms of voting interests for licensed Canadian carriers.

Over the years, Air Canada has further expanded its operating divisions which include subsidiaries such as Air Canada Cargo, Air Canada Jetz, Air Canada Express, Air Canada Rouge and Air Canada Vacations. These subsidiaries also include private jet charters and leisure flights. Not to mention how there is a specific airline under Air Canada that only works towards vacation packages. Air Canada Jazz, Air Canada Tango and Zip were formerly part of Air Canada. However, they are not marketed under the airline anymore. The regional partner further adds to the airline's revenue. Along with the regional partners who are part of the fleet, the airline collectively operates about 1,613 scheduled flights on a daily basis.

Fleet size of Air Canada

Air Canada currently handles a total of 173 fleets operational from the airline's hub at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Part of their fleet majorly operates Airbus and Boeing types of aircraft. Some of the fleet combinations include 19 Boeing 777-300ER (77W), 12 Airbus A330-300 (333), 29 Boeing 787-9 (789), eight Boeing 787-8 (788), 15 Airbus A321-200 (321), 24 Boeing 737 MAX 8 (7M8), six Airbus A220-300 (223), 35 Airbus A320-200 (320) and 16 Airbus A319-100 (319).

In the past, Air Canada's Douglas DC-8-63 fleet was restrained from passenger services in 1983. In fact, out of the total, six of them were converted to DC-8-73F freighters in 1984 and reused as a cargo freight for Air Canada. Eventually, the aircraft were sold off around 1990 and 1994. Similarly, Douglas DC-9-15s were used by Air Canada in 1968. Out of these, the DC-9-32CF was used for commercial cargo flights that operated until 1977. Meanwhile, McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32s were utilised by the airline from 1967 to 2002, until they were finally suspended. Airbus A340-500s were used by Air Canada but were later replaced with Boeing 777-200LRs in 2007. It has been recorded that Air Canada was the only airline in North America to operate the A340. The Airbus A340-300s also retired in 2008 and were replaced to add Boeing 777-300ERs by Air Canada. More aircraft from Air Canada were retired, including Boeing 767-200ER fleet that bid farewell to the airline by the end of 2008. many aircraft from the subsidiary fleet were also retired, and the newer fleet was added.

Baggage Allowance

When it comes to baggage allowance in Air Canada flights, it is essential for you to know exactly how much would be ideal for carrying in the cabin as well as for check-in. For overhead bin baggage, the standard dimension is 55cm x 23 cm x 40 cm. The weight could differ depending on the cabin class that you have opted for. For business class and first-class passengers, the weight that can be carried is different from the economy class. As for a personal bag that is also allowed for the passenger to carry, the dimension cannot exceed 33 cm x 16 cm x 43 cm. The contents of the baggage are also specific, so you will need to check the airline's website for all specifics on the same. An additional bag for infant products can also be carried if you are travelling with a child. A complete list of items that can and cannot be carried in flight have been mentioned, which you can peruse through to be certain.

Passengers who are members of the Star Alliance group have the liberty to add extra free baggage that they can carry along with them. The perks of Star Alliance members can also be found out at the official website of Air Canada. The check-in baggage should not weigh more than 32 kg and should have a total linear dimension of 292 cm. Baggage allowance in Air Canada for check-in baggage also comes with some rules and regulations that need to be followed. Certain items are restricted and cannot be carried during travel. For passengers who have taken the codeshare flights which are associated with Air Canada, it would be best to go through the diverse baggage policies that have been applied by the said carrier. A thorough perusal through the website of Air Canada will help you gain better insights.

In-flight services

There are three classes of facilities that Air Canada's in-flight services offer, such as Business/Signature, Premium Economy and Economy. For most of the long-haul international routes for Air Canada, all the three classes are offered. However, for short-haul domestic routes, only business class and economy class are featured in the aircraft.

Signature class (Business class) - Air Canada's in-flight services for business class are available on all the widebody aircraft. They comprise of the executive pod and classic pod to provide privacy, noise cancellation headphones and features AVOD )Audio Video on Demand). The reclining seats can be stretched into flatbeds that extend up to 6 ft 7 inch. The services also include complimentary meals with alcoholic beverages for passengers along with other services such as free WiFi, plug points for laptops and other gadgets.

Premium economy class - The premium class is present in all Airbus A330 along with Boeing 777and Boeing 787 aircraft. The features of the premium economy include larger seats, recliner seats and a seat which can stretch up to 37 to 38 inches. The premium economy class also comes with personalised entertainment decks that can be availed. There are AVOD services available and sent by XM Satellite Radio. The airline also offers in-flight meals and WiFi services. You can even ask for blankets from the cabin crew.

Economy - Compared to the business class and premium economy class, the economy class seats are smaller and have decreased seat pitches that recline up to 4.5 to 6 inches. Personalised AVOD is available for all the passengers, as are other features such as in-flight meals, WiFi services, complimentary non-alcoholic beverages, to name a few.

Popular routes and top cities for Air Canada

Air Canada is quite popular as it is not only one of the founding members of Star Alliance but also has an excellent connection with a plethora of domestic and international routes. International routes include Sydney, London, Dusseldorf, Paris, Munich, Berlin, Zurich, Vienna, Delhi, Manchester, Brussels, Madrid, Prague, Singapore, Mumbai and Lisbon. These are the top cities that Air Canada caters to and see excellent services as most of the aircraft used are Boeing and Airbus.

Why travel by Air Canada?

As one of the most popular airlines in the world, Air Canada gives travellers many reasons to pick them over the other airlines. Some of the highlights include the same terminal connection. The airline's hub has one linear terminal connection that makes it easier for passengers to reach for their connecting flights. The airline also offers customs pre-clearance to avoid standing in long queues. You can book Air Canada flights without any hassle as it is available on all travel platforms, including the website of the airlines. Further, you can download the official app of Air Canada on your phone to get flight status as well as flight schedules. Not to mention how web check-in is also possible through their mobile app and website. This makes the procedures simpler for a traveller. Air Canada's in-flight services are also a testament to why it should be chosen over the other airlines for travel. The domestic and international routes taken by Air Canada make their flight connectivity excellent. The airline caters to all your need and hence should be considered.