Air Canada

Air Canada

IATA ICAO Call sign AC ACA Air Canada
Founded	1937
Hubs	Montréal-Trudeau Int'l Airport Toronto Pearson Int'l Airport Vancouver Int'l Airport
Focus cities	Calgary International Airport
Frequent-flyer program	Aeroplan
Alliance	Star Alliance
Fleet size	329 (+128 Orders)
Destinations	240
Parent company	ACE Aviation Holdings Inc.
Headquarters	Montreal, Quebec
Key people	Montie Brewer (President & CEO)
Website	http://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 has its corporate headquarters in Montreal, Quebec and was founded in 1937. 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's headquarters are in Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, however its largest hub is Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International Airport. Air Canada is currently the world's 12th largest airline. 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 it 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 flight landed in Toronto, ending more than 30 years of 747 service with the airline. The plane was 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 777-300ER, which will be delivered in the last quarter of 2006 and first quarter of 2007.

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. 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. [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 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 (similar to those used on other world airlines).
• 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

Fleet

Current Air Canada Fleet

The Air Canada fleet consists of 199 of the following aircraft (as of August 2006):

Air Canada Fleet

Aircraft	No. of Aircraft (Orders)	Seats	Notes
Airbus A319-100	45	120 (J14/Y106)	Beginning fall 2006, new interiors will be installed with laptop power and on-demand PTV at every seat, All A319s to be completed March 2007.
Airbus A320-200	51	140 (J20/Y120)	In May 2006 a major interior facelift began with the installation of new interiors and seats with laptop power and on-demand PTV at every seat, all A320s to be completed by December 2006.
Airbus A321-200	10	166 (J24/Y142)	Beginning winter 2006, new interiors will be installed with laptop power and on-demand PTV at every seat, All A321s to be completed by June 2007.
Airbus A330-300	8	274 (J42/Y232)	Used mainly on transatlantic routes; personal suites with full length bed being introduced on all 767s and A330s in Executive First, PTVs being introduced in Economy Class; will be replaced by Boeing 787-8.
Airbus A340-300	10	286 (J30/Y256)	Used mainly on trans-pacific routes. Will be replaced by Boeing 777.
Airbus A340-500	2	267 (J42/Y225)	Used on Hong Kong–Toronto non-stop route over North Pole; PTVs in all seats; will be replaced by Boeing 777 in 2007.
Boeing 767-200/200ER	12	207 (J24/Y183)	New interiors and seats with laptop power and on-demand PTVs being introduced at every seat; will be replaced by Boeing 787-8 after 2010.
Boeing 767-300ER	33	203 (J30/Y173) 213 (J25/Y188) 212 (J30/Y182) 212 (J25/Y187)	Personal Suites with full length flat bed being introduced on all 767s and A330s in Executive First, PTVs being introduced in Economy Class; will be replaced by Boeing 787-8.
Embraer 175	15	73 (J9/Y64)	Features PTVs at all seats.
Embraer 190	13	93 (J9/Y84)	Features PTVs at all seats.

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

Orders

Air Canada orders fleet consists of 66 of the following aircraft and options and purchase rights for 64 more aircraft totaling 128. (as of August 2006)

Air Canada Order Fleet

Aircraft	No. of Aircraft	Options	Seats	Notes
Boeing 777-200LR	(12)	18		Will eventually replace all Airbus A340s.
Boeing 777-300ER	(4)			Replacement for Boeing 747-400 and for other routes that require additional lift.
Boeing 777F	(2)			Launch customer along with Air France-KLM.
Boeing 787-8	(14)	46		Will eventually replace all Airbus A330s and Boeing 767s.
Embraer 190	(32)		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 May 2006):

Main article: Air Canada Jazz

Jazz Dash 8

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.

Type	Used	Picture
Avro Lancastrian	(1943-1947)	[4]
BAe 146-200		[5]
Boeing 727-200	(1974-1992)	[6]
Boeing 737-200	(1976-2004)	[7]
Boeing 747-100 -200 Combi -400 -400 Combi	(1971-2004)	[8][9]
Bombardier CRJ 100ER	(1994-2006) to Air Canada Jazz
Bristol 31	(1953-1955)	[10]
Canadair North Star	(1946-1961)	[11]
Douglas DC-3	(1945-1963)	[12]
Douglas DC-8-40 -50 -60 -70	(1960-1983)	[13]
Douglas DC-9-30	(1966-2002)	[14]
Douglas DC-10 From Canadian Airlines	(1971-2001)	[15]
Fokker F28	(1986-2004)	[16]
Lockheed Super Constellation	(1954-1963)	[17]
Lockheed Electra	(1937-1941)	[18]
Lockheed L-1011 -1 -15 -100 -500	(1973-1996)	[19]
Lockheed Lodestar	(1941-1949)	[20]
Lockheed Super Electra	(1941-1949)	[21]
Stearman	(1937-1939)	[22]
Vickers Vanguard	(1961-1972)	[23]
Vickers Viscount	(1955-1974)	[24]

Gallery

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
File:Acdc-8-61.jpg Air Canada Boeing 767 leaving Montreal	File:Air Canada B767 C-FVNM large.jpg Air Canada DC-8 at Montreal Trudeau

Incidents and accidents

• November 29, 1963: McDonnell Douglas DC-8 stalled on takeoff out of Montreal-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 Montreal, Quebec. 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. No deaths.
• 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.

Classes of service

Air Canada offers two classes of service on the majority of its flights, with single-class service offered on some short-haul Air Canada Jazz regional routings (Dash 8-100, Dash 8-300, CRJ).

Upgraded amenities were due to start rolling out across the fleet (as detailed below) from Spring 2006, although delays have been encountered and the upgrade is now expected to fully commence in late 2006.

Executive First

Air Canada's premium international service is Executive First, offered on the vast majority of their transcontinental services. Executive First currently features a 2-2-2 or 1-2-2 seating arrangement of seats reclining to around 155 degrees. Audio-Video-On-Demand (AVOD) personal at-seat televisions are available on all Airbus A330 and A340 aircraft. Personal DVD players without AVOD are provided free of charge on all Boeing 767 aircraft to all Executive First customers. A premium 4-course meal service is offered, with "cart-less" service and food served in restaurant-style bowls or plates, as opposed to traditional casserole corningware. Beginning in the first quarter of 2006, Air Canada will replace the current Executive First seats on all its aircraft (except the A340s, which will be phased out) to individual lie-flat suites, in a 1-2-1 arrangement, giving customers greater privacy as well as a full length bed. However, it has recently been said that this upgrade has been delayed to September of 2006. This move is to compete with airlines such as Cathay Pacific and British Airways, who offer similar services.

Executive Class

Air Canada's domestic premium service is Executive Class, a toned down version of their international service. Premium meals as well as individualized service is offered, but currently only mainscreen entertainment is available on Air Canada Jazz jets. Air Canada jets have personal TVs for all Executive Class customers. However, with Air Canada's fleet and seating renewal, beginning in 2006 all aircraft (in both Air Canada and Air Canada Jazz fleets) will be refitted with new Executive Class seats with personal televisions. A similar meal service to Executive First is offered.

Economy Class

Previously named Hospitality Class, Economy Class is Air Canada's domestic and international basic service class. Recently, meals have been removed on all North American flights to cut costs but meals are still offered on transcontinental and Hawaiian routings. On all North American flights, food is available for purchase, paid in either US or Canadian dollars. Along with the Business Class seat renewals, Hospitality Class seats will be replaced with personal entertainment-equipped seats gradually over the next few years. Air Canada's newer jets like Embraer E190 are fitted with PTVs in Hospitality Service.

The letter on a boarding pass maps to the named classes shown on the website, a rough breakdown as listed on the 2007 Aeroplan upgrade certificatesfollows: 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, there is a main screen (with overhead TVs on top of every few seats) which broadcasts recorded CBC news and other Hollywood movies. On the A340-500, and the Embraer fleet every passenger has a TV, which is powered by a custom design Linux variant, and their enRoute program. 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 have launched the 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, features 8.9-inch wide digital in-seat monitors and touch-screen controls offering AVOD programming and video games in every seat, and is being introduced to the entire Air Canada fleet (except A340 aircraft which are to be phased out soon and replaced by brand new, more fuel-efficient Boeing 777 aircraft), by the end of 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 Canadian and US flights, but do offer a selection of meals and snacks for purchase, paid in either U.S. 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).

Frequent Flyer Program

Air Canada's frequent flyer program is Aeroplan.

Subsidiaries and Partners

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)

Air Canada Cargo

• AC 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)

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)

• 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

• Launched in 2002, Air Canada Jetz is a charter service for sports teams and professionals.

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

• 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

Code Sharing

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

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, 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 carrier Canada 3000. 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 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 A320's 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.

External links

• Air Canada
• Star Alliance
• Air Canada Fleet Age
• Virtual Air Canada (Flight Simulation)
• Air Canada Fleet Detail
• Air Canada Passenger Opinions
• Air Canada crashes
• Air Canada company news, history and bookings
• Air Canada Timeline
• ACE Aviation Holdings Inc. Insider Holdings and Transactions
• FlyerTalk Air Canada Discussion Board
• CanFlyer Discussion Board
• Air Canada Horizons Newsletter
• CBC Digital Archives - Turbulent Skies: The Air Canada Story
• Air Canada Pilots Association