Air Canada has evolved from modest beginnings to become Canada’s largest airline and a respected global carrier. With its distinctive red and white livery featuring the iconic maple leaf emblem, the airline exemplifies Canadian reliability, service excellence, and innovation while connecting Canada to the world.
Canadian Heritage: The History of Air Canada
Air Canada’s origins trace back to 1936 when the Canadian federal government created Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA), which began operating its first transcontinental flight routes in 1938. In 1965, TCA was renamed Air Canada following government approval.
After the deregulation of the Canadian airline market in the 1980s, the airline was privatized in 1988. A significant milestone came on January 4, 2000, when Air Canada acquired its largest rival, Canadian Airlines. This consolidation strengthened Air Canada’s position as the country’s dominant carrier.
The early 2000s brought challenges, as the airline filed for bankruptcy protection in 2003 and subsequently emerged reorganized under the holding company ACE Aviation Holdings in 2004. Despite these difficulties, Air Canada continued to grow and innovate.
In October 2021, the Government of Canada acquired a 6.4% stake in Air Canada in return for financial support to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, Air Canada stands as a resilient carrier that has overcome numerous industry challenges to maintain its leadership position.
By the Numbers: Air Canada Stats
Air Canada’s position as Canada’s aviation leader is reflected in its impressive statistics:
- Operates a fleet of over 350 aircraft
- Network spans nearly 200 destinations worldwide
- Mainline fleet consists of 207 passenger aircraft
- Flew 51.5 million passengers in 2019 (pre-pandemic)
- Received numerous industry honors including a Five Star Global Airline Award at the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) 2025 awards
- Named by Skytrax in 2024 as having the World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge Catering for the Toronto Air Canada Signature Suite
- Recognized as Skytrax’s Best Airline in North America in 2024
Quick Facts About Air Canada
- Headquarters: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- IATA Code: AC
- Operates through subsidiaries including Air Canada Cargo, Air Canada Express, Air Canada Jetz, and Air Canada Rouge
- Alliance membership: Star Alliance
- Corporate identity: Features maple leaf symbol reflecting Canadian heritage
- Fleet: Mix of Boeing (737 MAX, 767, 777, 787) and Airbus (A220, A319, A320, A321, A330) aircraft
- Premium cabins: Signature Class (Business), Premium Economy, Economy
- Offers three classes of service on most long-haul international routes
- Operates the Air Canada Vacations division
- Active member of the global Star Alliance
- Unveiled a new uniform scheme in February 2017 coinciding with Canada’s 150th and Air Canada’s 80th anniversaries
- Earned Gold Level certification in Mental Health at Work from Excellence Canada in 2024
Hub Cities: Air Canada’s Major Operations
Air Canada operates from several strategic hubs across Canada:
- Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) – Primary international hub
- Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) – Quebec hub with significant international operations
- Vancouver International Airport (YVR) – Western Canada hub and gateway to Asia-Pacific
- Calgary International Airport (YYC) – Western Canada operations
- Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) – Atlantic Canada hub
These strategically positioned hubs enable Air Canada to efficiently serve its domestic network throughout Canada while connecting to international destinations across the globe.
Fleet and Service
As of April 2025, Air Canada’s mainline fleet consists of 207 passenger aircraft, featuring a mix of Airbus and Boeing narrow-body and wide-body jets. The airline’s various brands maintain additional aircraft: Air Canada Cargo operates six Boeing 767-300F freighter aircraft, Air Canada Express has a fleet of 46 turboprop aircraft and 60 regional jets, Air Canada Jetz operates four Airbus A320 aircraft in an all-business class configuration, and leisure brand Air Canada Rouge has 40 jets from the Airbus A320 family.
The airline continues to innovate with its onboard services. Starting in 2025, in partnership with Bell Canada, Air Canada will roll out fast and free Wi-Fi to Aeroplan members on Wi-Fi-equipped planes flying within North America, Mexico, and the Caribbean, covering approximately 85% of their fleet. The service will extend to their international fleet starting in 2026.
Network Expansion
Air Canada continues to expand its global footprint with new routes and increased frequencies:
For 2025, new destinations and route resumptions include:
- Toronto to Prague (Czechia) and Jacksonville (Florida)
- Montreal to Naples (Italy) and Porto (Portugal)
- Vancouver to Beijing (China) and Nashville (Tennessee)
April 2025 saw the inauguration of a new international route from Vancouver to Manila, further strengthening Air Canada’s Asia-Pacific network.
Looking ahead, Air Canada has announced plans to add 10 to 15 new US destinations by 2028, which would increase their US presence from the current 50 airports to between 60 and 65. This ambitious expansion will further solidify Air Canada’s position as a major North American carrier.
Fleet Modernization
Air Canada is actively modernizing its fleet with 33 Airbus A220-300 aircraft already in service and expecting delivery of another 27. Additionally, they operate 41 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft with 12 more on order.
The airline has placed an order for 30 Airbus A321 extra-long range aircraft, with deliveries expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2025. Overall, Air Canada has secured orders for 83 new aircraft, including the A321XLRs and 18 Boeing 787-10s, scheduled for delivery through 2029.
Sustainability Initiatives
Environmental responsibility has become increasingly important for Air Canada:
In 2024, Air Canada announced an agreement with Neste to procure approximately 77.6 million liters of sustainable aviation fuel for use in Canada. This purchase contributes significantly to Air Canada’s target to procure 1% sustainable aviation fuel for its estimated 2025 jet fuel use.
Through Air Canada’s Leave Less Travel Program, corporate customers and cargo freight forwarders can purchase environmental attributes associated with sustainable aviation fuel, carbon offsets, or a combination of both related to their business air travel or cargo shipments on Air Canada.
Looking Ahead
Air Canada continues to strengthen its position as Canada’s premier airline while adapting to evolving market conditions and challenges. The airline is investing heavily in advanced booking and ticketing technology to enhance customer service as part of its transformational plans for 2025.
With projected annual growth of 5-6% over the next few years, Air Canada is well-positioned to maintain its leadership position with its strong domestic network, growing international presence, and commitment to service excellence. The airline’s blend of Canadian hospitality and cutting-edge technology will continue to define the Air Canada experience as it connects Canada to the world in the years to come.
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