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Air Canada Master Fleet Changes Thread

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Old Feb 15, 19, 10:51 pm
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Last edit by: Adam Smith
Background

It is intended that this wiki will be updated periodically using new fleet plans from future quarterly disclosures, presentations or press releases by AC, or information from other sources (e.g. Planespotters), and that anyone is free to update the wiki. The data in the wiki is intended to be as up-to-date as possible.

Fleet Evolution Over Time

This spreadsheet contains data on AC's fleet back to 2005, and includes numerous charts that detail the evolution of various types in the fleet from then until the present.

Overview of Current Fleet and Future Plans

Mainline Widebody Fleet

Boeing 777-300ER (77W)
Current: 19
Future plans: no changes planned

Boeing 777-200LR (77L)
Current: 6
Future plans: no changes planned

Boeing 787-10 (781)
Current: 0
Future plans: 18 aircraft to be delivered between Q4 of 2025 and Q1 of 2027; options for a further 12 aircraft

Boeing 787-9 (789)
Current: 30
Future plans: +1 in 2023, +1 in 2024

Boeing 787-8 (788)
Current: 8
Future plans: no changes planned

Airbus A330-300 (333)
Current: 18
Future plans: no changes planned

Mainline Narrowbody Fleet

AC has announced plans to acquire 28 A321 XLRs, with deliveries from 2025 to 2027, plus options for 15 additional aircraft with deliveries from 2027 to 2030. See this thread

Airbus A321 (321)
Current: 15
Future plans: no changes planned

Airbus A320 (320)
Current: 18
Future plans: -2 in 2023

Airbus A319 (319)
Current: 7
Future plans: -2 in 2023

Boeing 737-8 (7M8)
Current: 40
Future plans: no changes planned
AC holds purchase options for 10 additional aircraft (7M7, 7M8, or 7M9).

Airbus A220-300 (223)
Current: 33
Future plans: +3 in 2024, further 24 aircraft on order
AC holds options for 15 additional aircraft.

rouge Narrowbody Fleet

Airbus A321 (321)
Current: 17
Future plans: no changes planned

Airbus A320 (320)
Current: 5
Future plans: no changes planned

Airbus A319 (319)
Current: 18
Future plans: no changes planned

Express Fleet

Following changes announced in early 2021, all regional aircraft are now operated by Jazz. Jazz has exclusivity to operate 70+ seat aircraft for AC until 2025.
More changes at Chorus. E175s transfering to Jazz, Dash8-300s leaving fleet
PAL Airlines will also soon operate up to 6 DH4s for AC in eastern Canada

Embraer 175 (E75)
Current: 25
Future plans: no changes planned

Bombardier CRJ-900 (CR9)
Current: 35
Future plans: no changes planned

Bombardier CRJ-200 (CRJ)
Current: 8
Future plans: to be retired by May 1, 2024

Bombardier Q400 (DH4)
Current: 39
Future plans: +4 in 2023

The last of the DH3 fleet was retired in early 2022.

AC has announced plans to acquire 30 Heart ES-30 hybrid regional aircraft, with entry in to service in 2028. See this thread

Cargo Fleet

Boeing 777F (77F)
Current: 0
Further plans: +2 in 2024

Boeing 767-300F
Current: 6
Future plans: +1 in 2023, +2 in 2024, +1 in 2025

Sources

Information above is based primarily on the fleet plan in Air Canada's 2023 Q2 MD&A, as of August 11, 2023, with updates based on information from planespotters.net, press releases, and other sources.
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Air Canada Master Fleet Changes Thread

   
Old Sep 26, 23, 4:12 pm
  #661  
 
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Now that Boeing has made the 777-8x a bit bigger, AC is interested.
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Old Sep 26, 23, 7:32 pm
  #662  
 
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Originally Posted by Expressflyer900
I "replacing older less efficient" could mean anything.
You forgot the "wide-body aircraft" from that quote. So, "older wide-body" really only means 77L and 330s, no? I believe Air Canada has found a nice cargo/pax niche for the 77Ls despite many suggesting the type was a white elephant. So, while my money is on these replacing the 330s - I agree with others that we will see several 771s in service before any 330s retire.
Last edited by YVR72; Sep 26, 23 at 7:41 pm
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Old Sep 26, 23, 8:01 pm
  #663  
 
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Originally Posted by YVR72
You forgot the "wide-body aircraft" from that quote. So, "older wide-body" really only means 77L and 330s, no? I believe Air Canada has found a nice cargo/pax niche for the 77Ls despite many suggesting the type was a white elephant. So, while my money is on these replacing the 330s - I agree with others that we will see several 771s in service before any 330s retire.
It's a sneaky wat of saying that they finally have replacements for the 767. I have a source I can't name that agrees with that. A330s aren't going at this point.
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Old Sep 26, 23, 8:27 pm
  #664  
 
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Originally Posted by Expressflyer900
It's a sneaky wat of saying that they finally have replacements for the 767. I have a source I can't name that agrees with that. A330s aren't going at this point.
This isn’t atypical of AC’s external communication/PR style…but I don’t understand why they do that.
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Old Sep 26, 23, 10:45 pm
  #665  
 
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Originally Posted by Nightflyer787
Now that Boeing has made the 777-8x a bit bigger, AC is interested.
A fleet of 777-8 with a low and high J version like the present 77W could fly essentially any mission AC throws at it. The question will be does the 777-9 end up outperforming its estimate as the original 77W and making the 777-8 redundant. The same could also be said for a fleet of A35K also configured low and high J so it will interesting to watch over time.
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Old Sep 27, 23, 9:46 am
  #666  
 
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Originally Posted by ChrisA330
This isnt atypical of ACs external communication/PR stylebut I dont understand why they do that.
Eastern Canadian arrogance. They've never been able to admit strategic mistakes in the past.
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Old Sep 27, 23, 10:58 am
  #667  
 
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Looks like the final CRJ-200 flight is actually scheduled next month Oct 28th DCA-YUL AC8824 and not flying at all this winter it seems unless I'm mistaken.
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Old Sep 27, 23, 11:07 am
  #668  
 
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Originally Posted by Aselwyn
Looks like the final CRJ-200 flight is actually scheduled next month Oct 28th DCA-YUL AC8824 and not flying at all this winter it seems unless I'm mistaken.
That could be the case, however, the contract with the pilots was for an exit of 2024. They'll probably be around until some arbitrary date to satisfy our lawyers. The training program for the CRJ pilots still has to be redone and reapproved by Transport Canada as well. Removal of aircraft types/sub-types can be time consuming.
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Old Sep 27, 23, 1:58 pm
  #669  
 
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Originally Posted by EdmFlyBoi
It is still not big enough for some of the routes if demand stays where it is (which I am not necessarily suggesting it will). There was a discussion on Bloomberg this am about fuel prices and lower demand due to the bite of higher rates. Regardless, AC has some routes that fill the 450 seat 77W and the 78X is not going to have near that many seats. I definitely agree that the A333's and 777's are not going anywhere in the short or medium term, but long term AC will need a 77W replacement and the only options out there are a an A35K or the 777X. I'd wager they buy the 777X for delivery after 2030 but this is far from certain. AC may end up copying UA and have a large fleet of 787's.
I'm putting money for the 77W replacement on the 77X and not a a350 variant. Even the existing A330 fleet stems from that airframe's co-development, and shared certification with the A340, which at one time was a part of AC's long haul fleet strategy. AC is now heavily a Boeing airline on the LH end and I don't see them adding another type just to satisfy passenger capacity. But as I've said AC isn't looking to replace the 77W anytime soon so there's no reason to be buying aircraft that fulfill that mission now, and who knows what will come to market when they do begin replacing them.
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Old Sep 27, 23, 2:02 pm
  #670  
 
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Originally Posted by JustSomeGuy1978
I'm putting money for the 77W replacement on the 77X and not a a350 variant. Even the existing A330 fleet stems from that airframe's co-development, and shared certification with the A340, which at one time was a part of AC's long haul fleet strategy. AC is now heavily a Boeing airline on the LH end and I don't see them adding another type just to satisfy passenger capacity. But as I've said AC isn't looking to replace the 77W anytime soon so there's no reason to be buying aircraft that fulfill that mission now, and who knows what will come to market when they do begin replacing them.
I don't necessarily agree with that. AC will go with whoever gives them the best deal. The original 777 order was because Robert Milton had an in with Boeing. The 737s were a bargain basement deal thanks to the 787 delays. The new 787s are for fleet commonality (no brainer). If AC gets what they like from Airbus in the future in form of A350s, they'll do it. There is no brand loyalty there like there is with their competition or Southwest.
Last edited by Expressflyer900; Sep 27, 23 at 2:13 pm
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Old Sep 27, 23, 5:35 pm
  #671  
 
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More interim lift discussion (though not especially new news):

https://aviationweek.com/air-transpo...a321xlr-delays
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Old Sep 27, 23, 10:38 pm
  #672  
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Originally Posted by EdmFlyBoi
It is still not big enough for some of the routes if demand stays where it is (which I am not necessarily suggesting it will). There was a discussion on Bloomberg this am about fuel prices and lower demand due to the bite of higher rates. Regardless, AC has some routes that fill the 450 seat 77W and the 78X is not going to have near that many seats. I definitely agree that the A333's and 777's are not going anywhere in the short or medium term, but long term AC will need a 77W replacement and the only options out there are a an A35K or the 777X. I'd wager they buy the 777X for delivery after 2030 but this is far from certain. AC may end up copying UA and have a large fleet of 787's.
I think customers prefer more frequencies anyway. It's not necessarily bad to have a large Dreamliner fleet.
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Old Oct 5, 23, 6:49 am
  #673  
 
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According to another blog, two more A330's are going to be arriving, taking the fleet to 20. FIN's 949 and 950 with registrations already having been assigned.
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Old Oct 5, 23, 11:40 pm
  #674  
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Originally Posted by EdmFlyBoi
According to another blog, two more A330's are going to be arriving, taking the fleet to 20. FIN's 949 and 950 with registrations already having been assigned.
Really? None of Transport Canada, PlaneSpotters, or AirFleets is showing these aircraft. The fleet plan in the Q2 MD&A had nothing about more arrivals. I know Rousseau or Nasr mentioned more potential 333s in a recent interview, but that seems like a quick turnaround to actually have them in the fleet...
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Old Oct 5, 23, 11:45 pm
  #675  
 
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Originally Posted by Adam Smith
Really? None of Transport Canada, PlaneSpotters, or AirFleets is showing these aircraft. The fleet plan in the Q2 MD&A had nothing about more arrivals. I know Rousseau or Nasr mentioned more potential 333s in a recent interview, but that seems like a quick turnaround to actually have them in the fleet...
MSN 1105 is apparently the first one.
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