Air Canada

^{*Executive Class is offered on North American routes. Executive First is offered on International routes. Premium Economy Class is also available on select International routes. </center> In March 2006 Air Canada's fleet was on average 9.8 years old.}

[edit] 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

Image:Air Canada Jazz Dash 8.jpg <center>

^{*Executive Class is only available on Bombardier CRJ 705 aircraft. </center>}

[edit] Historic fleet

Here is a list of planes that Air Canada has operated from 1937-today. Click on link for a photo. Image:Ac727.jpg <center>

</center>

[edit] 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.

[edit] Executive First (International Premium Business / First Class)

Executive First is Air Canada’s international premium business class product. Executive First features on B767-300ER, 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 B767-300 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 B767-300ER. Some Boeing 767-300ER and A340-300 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 horizontal 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.

[edit] Executive Class (North American business Class)

Executive Class is Air Canada’s North American first class product. Seat configuration 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 international and domestic aircraft will feature PTV's in all classes of service. The make-over is expected to be completed by late 2007.

[edit] 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 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Services

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Maintenance

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

[edit] Ground Handling

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

[edit] Subsidiaries and Partners

[edit] Aeroplan

• In June 2005, a portion of Aeroplan was spun off by ACE Aviation Holdings as an Income trust on the Toronto Stock Exchange. ACE Aviation Holding is still the major shareholder. (Subsidiary of ACE Aviation)

[edit] 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)

[edit] 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)

[edit] Air Canada Jazz (Jazz Air LP)

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)

[edit] Air Canada Jetz

• 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.

[edit] 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 Montréal, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver. (Subsidiary of ACE Aviation)

[edit] 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)

[edit] Partners

• Air Canada's regional partners include Air Canada Jazz, Exploits Valley Air Services, Air Georgian, and Central Mountain Air.

• Air Canada is a founding member of the Star Alliance

[edit] Code Sharing

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

[edit] Former Subsidiaries

• In 2001, Air Canada launched Air Canada Tango, which offered no-frills service and lower fares between major cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, Montréal 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.

[edit] 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. [30] (pdf)

[edit] Incidents and Accidents

• November 29, 1963: McDonnell Douglas DC-8 stalled on takeoff out of Montréal-Dorval International Airport. All 118 lives were lost on board. It was the first crash of an Air Canada flight and was one of the worst air disasters in Canadian history.
• May 19, 1967: McDonnell Douglas DC-8, crashed and burned on a training flight while attempting a three-engine landing at Ottawa, Ontario. All 3 crew members were killed. There were no passengers on the flight.
• July 5, 1970: Flight 621 McDonnell Douglas DC-8 exploded from a fuel line rupture caused by engine 4 striking the runway in Toronto, Ontario during the first landing attempt. All 109 passengers/crew were killed.
• June 21, 1973: McDonnell Douglas DC-8, caught fire and was burnt out during refuelling at Terminal 2, Toronto, Ontario. There were no deaths or injuries.
• June 26, 1978: Flight 189 McDonnell Douglas DC-9 overran the runway in Toronto after a blown tire aborted the takeoff. 2 of 107 passengers/crew were killed.
• June 2, 1982: McDonnell Douglas DC-9 exploded during a maintenance period in Montréal, Québec. No deaths.
• June 2, 1983: Flight 797 McDonnell Douglas DC-9 had an electrical fire in the aft lavatory during flight, resulting in an emergency landing at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. During emergency egress, the sudden influx of oxygen caused a flash fire throughout the cabin, resulting in the deaths of 23 of the 41 passengers, including Canadian folk singer Stan Rogers. All five crew members survived.
• July 23, 1983: Flight 143 Boeing 767 made an emergency landing in Gimli, Manitoba after running out of fuel. No one was injured. This incident was the subject of the TV movie Falling from the Sky: Flight 174, starring William Devane
• December 16, 1997: Air Canada Flight 646 Bombardier Canadair CRJ-100 crashed on a go-around in Fredericton, New Brunswick. There were no fatalities.
• September 14, 2001: Air Canada Flight 792 Airbus A320 was preparing for departure to Calgary, Alberta from Toronto, Ontario when a passenger noticed loose, clearly visible X-acto knives in the overhead bins. It is unknown whether the knives were onboard the aircraft on September 11, when it had been scheduled to fly from Toronto to New York City but was grounded following the attacks on the World Trade Center. CNN article
• September 27, 2001: Air Canada Flight 792 Boeing 767 was bound from Los Angeles to Toronto, but was returned to Los Angeles after an Iranian passenger was caught smoking in a lavatory, saying that he was making anti-American threats, taking place a half hour into the flight. The pilot returned to LAX, escorted by two F-16 fighter planes.
• November 19, 2006: Air Canada Flight 038 Boeing 767-300 was bound from Shanghai, China to Vancouver suffered severe turbulence and made an emergency landing at Tokyo's Narita International Airport. 4 flight attendants were sent to hospital. Flights in and out of Shanghai are notorious for turbulence problems.
• December 3, 2006: Air Canada Flight 004 Airbus A340 made an emergency landing at Vancouver International Airport after one of it's engines went out. This were a standard precaution. <ref>http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Canada/2006/12/03/2606855.html </ref>

[edit] External links

• Air Canada
• Star Alliance
• Air Canada Fleet Age
• Air Canada Fleet Detail
• Air Canada History, Program Details, & Bookings
• Air Canada crashes
• Air Canada Timeline
• CBC Digital Archives - Turbulent Skies: The Air Canada Story
• Air Canada Pilots Association

[edit] Gallery

Air Canada Boeing 747-400 Combi. Air Canada has retired its 747 fleet	Boeing 727 Landing at Montreal Trudeau, 1991	Jazz Dash 8s at Calgary International	Air Canada DC-8 at Montreal Trudeau
Air Canada Airbus A319 at Calgary International	Air Canada Jazz Bombardier CRJ

[edit] References