Feb 15, 2019, 9:51 pm
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: +2 in 2024
Boeing 787-8 (788)
Current: 8
Future plans: no changes planned
Airbus A330-300 (333)
Current: 18
Future plans: +1 in 2024
Mainline Narrowbody Fleet
AC has announced plans to acquire 30 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: 16
Future plans: no changes planned
Airbus A320 (320)
Current: 18
Future plans: +3 in 2024
Airbus A319 (319)
Current: 7
Future plans: -2 in 2024
Boeing 737-8 (7M8)
Current: 40
Future plans: +5 in 2025
AC holds purchase options for 10 additional aircraft (7M7, 7M8, or 7M9).
Airbus A220-300 (223)
Current: 33
Future plans: +2 in 2024, +7 in 2025, further 18 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
All regional aircraft are operated by Jazz, with the exception of a small number of DH4s operated by PAL Airlines in Atlantic 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: 15
Future plans: -7 in 2024
Bombardier Q400 (DH4)
Current: 43
Future plans: no changes planned
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 767-300F
Current: 7
Future plans: +2 in 2024, +1 in 2025
Sources
Information above is based primarily on the fleet plan in Air Canada's 2023 Q4 MD&A, as of February 16, 2024, with updates based on information from planespotters.net, press releases, and other sources.
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: +2 in 2024
Boeing 787-8 (788)
Current: 8
Future plans: no changes planned
Airbus A330-300 (333)
Current: 18
Future plans: +1 in 2024
Mainline Narrowbody Fleet
AC has announced plans to acquire 30 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: 16
Future plans: no changes planned
Airbus A320 (320)
Current: 18
Future plans: +3 in 2024
Airbus A319 (319)
Current: 7
Future plans: -2 in 2024
Boeing 737-8 (7M8)
Current: 40
Future plans: +5 in 2025
AC holds purchase options for 10 additional aircraft (7M7, 7M8, or 7M9).
Airbus A220-300 (223)
Current: 33
Future plans: +2 in 2024, +7 in 2025, further 18 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
All regional aircraft are operated by Jazz, with the exception of a small number of DH4s operated by PAL Airlines in Atlantic 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: 15
Future plans: -7 in 2024
Bombardier Q400 (DH4)
Current: 43
Future plans: no changes planned
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 767-300F
Current: 7
Future plans: +2 in 2024, +1 in 2025
Sources
Information above is based primarily on the fleet plan in Air Canada's 2023 Q4 MD&A, as of February 16, 2024, with updates based on information from planespotters.net, press releases, and other sources.
Air Canada Master Fleet Changes Thread
Feb 15, 2019, 9:48 pm
#1
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
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Posts: 16,742
Air Canada Master Fleet Changes Thread
Plenty of fleet developments going on at AC these days. We have a number of threads dedicated to individual aircraft type changes, but many airline forums on FT also have a master thread (or a couple) to keep track of type threads and discuss broader issues relating to fleet changes. I thought I'd start one here.
I hope this is useful for people as a quick reference to upcoming fleet changes as well as a place to discuss them.
The intention is to keep a wiki up to date with current fleet stats and plans, along with links to the individual threads with more in-depth discussion of individual types. The idea is to keep the wiki fairly up to date, so, for instance, I've not included links to the thread on the extra 77Ws that AC purchased in 2013 and were delivered in 2013-14.
I hope this is useful for people as a quick reference to upcoming fleet changes as well as a place to discuss them.
The intention is to keep a wiki up to date with current fleet stats and plans, along with links to the individual threads with more in-depth discussion of individual types. The idea is to keep the wiki fairly up to date, so, for instance, I've not included links to the thread on the extra 77Ws that AC purchased in 2013 and were delivered in 2013-14.
Feb 15, 2019, 9:49 pm
#2
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Plat, WS Plat, BA Silver, DL GM, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,742
To kick off the discussion... One interesting open item is what is AC going to do with the 319s and 321s that are currently projected to be at mainline through 2021. They have a bunch more 7M8s on order and the ability to convert those to 7M7s or 7M9s, but no sign of doing so thus far. So do the 319s and 321s have a long-term future at mainline, or will they end up at rouge soon enough?
Last edited by Adam Smith; Feb 15, 2019 at 10:00 pm
Feb 15, 2019, 9:55 pm
#3
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Feb 16, 2019, 6:53 am
#4
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE100K, Bonvoy Platinum Elite, IHG Gold, Hertz 5*
Posts: 2,132
Fantastic wiki and thread. Well done.
At quick glance it doesn't seem there is much of a net change in pax capacity across the fleet in coming years which suggests either that AC feels they have saturated the various markets, or they fly many aircraft not full.
I am disappointed in the change from A32Xs to 7M8s. It isn't new news of course but this thread serves as the reminder.
I actually have never liked A32X aircraft owing almost entirely to the engines. The sound they make on takeoff until cruising altitude is like nails on a chalkboard to me. Having said that, a few flights aboard the 7M8 have served as a reminder to be careful what one wishes for.
At quick glance it doesn't seem there is much of a net change in pax capacity across the fleet in coming years which suggests either that AC feels they have saturated the various markets, or they fly many aircraft not full.
I am disappointed in the change from A32Xs to 7M8s. It isn't new news of course but this thread serves as the reminder.
I actually have never liked A32X aircraft owing almost entirely to the engines. The sound they make on takeoff until cruising altitude is like nails on a chalkboard to me. Having said that, a few flights aboard the 7M8 have served as a reminder to be careful what one wishes for.
Feb 16, 2019, 7:22 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: YXU
Programs: AC SE100K, National E/E, HH Diamond, IHG Diamond, MB, Avis PC
Posts: 965
Airfleets.net is showing the 7M8 fleet as 20 strong. According to them, MSN7358, C-GEHI has been delivered n January 31. MSN7383, C-GHEV has been delivered on Feb. 1.
Feb 16, 2019, 7:30 am
#6
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: YXU
Programs: AC SE100K, National E/E, HH Diamond, IHG Diamond, MB, Avis PC
Posts: 965
Fantastic wiki and thread. Well done.
At quick glance it doesn't seem there is much of a net change in pax capacity across the fleet in coming years which suggests either that AC feels they have saturated the various markets, or they fly many aircraft not full.
I am disappointed in the change from A32Xs to 7M8s. It isn't new news of course but this thread serves as the reminder.
I actually have never liked A32X aircraft owing almost entirely to the engines. The sound they make on takeoff until cruising altitude is like nails on a chalkboard to me. Having said that, a few flights aboard the 7M8 have served as a reminder to be careful what one wishes for.
At quick glance it doesn't seem there is much of a net change in pax capacity across the fleet in coming years which suggests either that AC feels they have saturated the various markets, or they fly many aircraft not full.
I am disappointed in the change from A32Xs to 7M8s. It isn't new news of course but this thread serves as the reminder.
I actually have never liked A32X aircraft owing almost entirely to the engines. The sound they make on takeoff until cruising altitude is like nails on a chalkboard to me. Having said that, a few flights aboard the 7M8 have served as a reminder to be careful what one wishes for.
Feb 16, 2019, 8:47 am
#9
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE100K, Bonvoy Platinum Elite, IHG Gold, Hertz 5*
Posts: 2,132
AC's A32X fleet is sort of sharing the engines with the wast majority of the worldwide 737 fleet. The buzz saw sound is definitely present on 737's too. So not too much choice there. And right now I can't recall the sound inside of a V2500 powered A321. It's almost 3 years since I flew one.
Feb 16, 2019, 10:26 am
#10
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: YHZ/YQM
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 1,618
Until I read the Wiki I didn't know that AC Express operators are getting rid of 9 CRJ, 8 Q400, and 6 DH3. I knew that the 15 DH1 were on the way out, but the others came as a surprise to me. Some of these will be offset by 14 new CR9, but overall there is quite a decrease in birds for AC Express.
Feb 16, 2019, 11:05 am
#12
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: YYC, Canada
Programs: AC 35k
Posts: 1,898
Until I read the Wiki I didn't know that AC Express operators are getting rid of 9 CRJ, 8 Q400, and 6 DH3. I knew that the 15 DH1 were on the way out, but the others came as a surprise to me. Some of these will be offset by 14 new CR9, but overall there is quite a decrease in birds for AC Express.
Feb 16, 2019, 11:25 am
#13
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Join Date: Feb 2015
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Fair question. I believe Airbus is updating the paperwork to change it. Whether that's done or not, I don't know. I do know that Air Baltic uses "223" on their schedule.