Air Canada Plans to Squeeze More Seats onto B787-9

Air Canada sees high-density planes as a good strategy to cut costs and assist with international expansion.

Air Canada has announced plans to tightly configure its new fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, according to a report from Business Traveler. The airline has ordered 22 of the new aircraft, with deliveries scheduled to begin in early 2015.

While the Boeing website points to a passenger capacity of 280 for the 787-9, Air Canada plans to squeeze in a whopping 298 passengers across a three-class configuration, with 30 in business, 21 in premium economy and 247 in economy. The increased capacity of the economy section, which features a 3-3-3 layout, will stem from seats with a meager 17.3” width and pitches of 30” to 31”, depending on their location in the cabin.

The airline, with its global strategy of international expansion and cost control, regards the fuel-efficient aircraft and its high-density seating as a good fit. In an interview with the Financial Post, Air Canada President and CEO Calin Rovinescu stated that “high-density planes have turned out to be a great strategy for us,” stressing that the aircraft are a key part of his plan to cut expenses per seat mile flown by 15 percent over five years.

Air Canada began experimenting with high-density aircraft in 2013 by installing 458 seats on its Boeing 777. Rovinescu credits the increased passenger capacity with turning underperforming routes, such as Montreal–Paris, into moneymakers. In addition to Montreal-Paris, the airline also operates high-density 777s on the Vancouver–Hong Kong, Vancouver–London and Vancouver–Shanghai routes.

To date, Air Canada has announced only one dedicated route for the new 787-9. The aircraft will operate between Toronto and Delhi beginning in November 2015.

[Photo: Air Canada]