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Airbus A320/A321 (320/321) refurbishment program (beginning 2023)

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Old Oct 23, 2023, 9:11 pm
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Last edit by: Adam Smith
Air Canada A320 and A321 Refurbishment Progress Tracker
Aircraft are being modified from 2005 XM-era cabins to the "Dream Cabin" standard.
Initial photos available: here.

Modifications include:
  • Airspace XL overhead bins (allow roll-aboards to be stored on their sides, like on 737 MAXes and A220s)
  • Improved IFE with external cameras and bluetooth connectivity to connect personal headsets
  • Intelsat 2Ku (upgraded, satellite-based) wifi
  • Mood lighting
  • USB-A & USB-C at every seat

A320-200 [0/8]
Expected
:
  • Fins 235–242
  • New leased A320s Fins 417-422 TBD

A321-200 [3/16]
Configuration: 16J 180Y
Completed:
  • Fin 451/C-GITU - Refurbished at BHX from 2023-Apr-09. Returned to service 2023-Oct-21.
  • Fin 457/C-GJWD - Refurbished at MLB from 2023-Oct-18. Returned to service 2024-Feb-16.
  • Fin 464/C-FJNX - Refurbished at MLB from 2024-Jan-10. Returned to service 2024-Apr-23.
In progress:
  • Fin 463/C-FGKZ - Possible - Entered maintenance at MLB 2024-Feb-16.
  • Fin 235/C-GJVT - Possible - Entered maintenance at MLB 2024-Apr-23.
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Airbus A320/A321 (320/321) refurbishment program (beginning 2023)

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Old May 16, 2023, 8:16 am
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Airbus A320/A321 (320/321) refurbishment program (beginning 2023)

It sounds likely that C-GITU (451) is in BXH to get a new interior installed (about time); not a refresh of the *A livery as of yet.
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Old May 16, 2023, 8:26 am
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Originally Posted by Expressflyer900
It sounds likely that C-GITU (451) is in BXH to get a new interior installed (about time); not a refresh of the *A livery as of yet.
Wonder how long it will take AC to refurbish the A321 fleet (hopefully not as long as the A330’s).

Last edited by Adam Smith; May 16, 2023 at 9:19 am Reason: Edit to reflect thread move
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Old May 16, 2023, 8:28 am
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Originally Posted by EdmFlyBoi
Wonder how long it will take AC to refurbish the A321 fleet (hopefully not as long as the A330’s).
Well I can safely say all the Rouge 321s are done (minus the new ones from EVA).

Interior refurbs are hard to track vs paint because you have to fly on a specific tail to see if it's done vs spotting a painted A/C imo.

Last edited by Adam Smith; May 16, 2023 at 9:20 am Reason: Edit to reflect thread move
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Old May 16, 2023, 8:52 am
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Originally Posted by Expressflyer900
Well I can safely say all the Rouge 321s are done (minus the new ones from EVA).

Interior refurbs are hard to track vs paint because you have to fly on a specific tail to see if it's done vs spotting a painted A/C imo.
I would assume this means Planespotters is incorrect and they are all now 12J with the exception of the EVA FINS?
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Old May 16, 2023, 8:53 am
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Yes, AFAIK... The all Y ones are definitely long gone.
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Old May 17, 2023, 6:46 am
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I am ready to say adios to the old interiors on the A320/321 fleet. The seats are shot. If they keep the 320s hope they refurb them soon….
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Old May 17, 2023, 7:34 am
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Originally Posted by Altaflyer
I am ready to say adios to the old interiors on the A320/321 fleet. The seats are shot. If they keep the 320s hope they refurb them soon….
I'd at least take better overheads on the 321s... I think the 320s are sticking it out but who knows if they're in line to get a new interior soon.
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Old May 18, 2023, 8:42 am
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Originally Posted by Expressflyer900
I'd at least take better overheads on the 321s... I think the 320s are sticking it out but who knows if they're in line to get a new interior soon.
DL refurbished some (maybe all?) of their old 319s a few years back. They installed what Airbus then called Pivot Bins (I think now they're "AirSpace XL" or something - basically, similar to 787/MAX/A220 bins), new lavs, updated lighting, etc. New IFE too. They feel like brand-new planes. So it's definitely possible to do a lot with these older aircraft.

Would be great to see AC do something like that for whatever 32x are going to remain. Everything about them is so old and increasingly out of step with the rest of the fleet. If they're going to put in new seats and IFE, would be nice if they also put in new bins so as to avoid inconsistency in capacity across the narrowbody fleet.
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Last edited by Adam Smith; Aug 15, 2023 at 8:40 am Reason: Move content to new thread
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Old May 19, 2023, 12:04 pm
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Originally Posted by Adam Smith
DL refurbished some (maybe all?) of their old 319s a few years back. They installed what Airbus then called Pivot Bins (I think now they're "AirSpace XL" or something - basically, similar to 787/MAX/A220 bins), new lavs, updated lighting, etc. New IFE too. They feel like brand-new planes. So it's definitely possible to do a lot with these older aircraft.
AA has bins on theirs that allow for vertical stacking of bags... not sure if they're the same type that you mentioned, but they worked really well.
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Old May 19, 2023, 12:20 pm
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Originally Posted by Expressflyer900
AA has bins on theirs that allow for vertical stacking of bags... not sure if they're the same type that you mentioned, but they worked really well.
I presume you mean storing bags on their sides, rather than stacking them?

AA seems to have chosen Airbus's Airspace XL bins, but there are several options for retrofitting better bins on 32x aircraft.

I'm less fussed about which one AC picks, if they do it, much more focused just on them doing it in the first place.
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Old May 19, 2023, 12:22 pm
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Originally Posted by Adam Smith
I presume you mean storing bags on their sides, rather than stacking them?

AA seems to have chosen Airbus's Airspace XL bins, but there are several options for retrofitting better bins on 32x aircraft.

I'm less fussed about which one AC picks, if they do it, much more focused just on them doing it in the first place.
Yeah that's what I meant (the AC inflight announcements refer to it in that weird way I did and I've gotten used to it

Yeah those bins need a massive improvement. The CSAs in YYC are very gruff with people about the 321s and it's starting to make us all get grief from PAX.
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Old Aug 14, 2023, 11:12 am
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Hey everyone, I heard recently that the first A321 is being retrofitted into the new Air Canada standard, does anyone know the registration for this aircraft?
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Old Aug 14, 2023, 11:17 am
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Originally Posted by itripreport
Hey everyone, I heard recently that the first A321 is being retrofitted into the new Air Canada standard, does anyone know the registration for this aircraft?
So far the confirmed one is C-GITU (taking longer than expected I might add).

GJWD and GJWI are in YRQ but there is nothing concrete internally that they're getting anymore than heavy checks at YRQ right now. That's normally where they're done.

Last edited by Expressflyer900; Aug 14, 2023 at 11:28 am
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Old Aug 14, 2023, 11:27 am
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Originally Posted by Expressflyer900
So far the confirmed one is C-GITU (taking longer than expected I might add).

GJWD and GJWI are in YQR but there is nothing concrete internally that they're getting anymore than heavy checks at YRQ right now. That's normally where they're done.
Perfect, I'll try to track it down once it comes back into service (hopefully I'll visit me down in FLL haha). Looking forward to see what they do with these.
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Old Aug 14, 2023, 1:07 pm
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Originally Posted by itripreport
Perfect, I'll try to track it down once it comes back into service (hopefully I'll visit me down in FLL haha). Looking forward to see what they do with these.
There are 16 domestic business class J seats and 180 in economy for a total of 196.
And the lavs in the aft are placed like in the MAX and a220.
And the same lav at doors 3. And XL bins to turn luggage sideways.
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