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Air Canada has announced an upgrade initiative for its regional fleet today. These changes will deliver enhanced comfort, convenience, and connectivity to its customers. The program will focus on 25 De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft operated by Jazz Aviation LP (Jazz) under the Air Canada Express brand.
This multi-year refurbishment project includes new seating, an interior redesign, and fast, free Wi-Fi on select routes (a global first for this aircraft type). The upgrades will roll out in phases throughout 2026. Starting in October, Air Canada will become the first airline in the world to offer fast, free Wi-Fi on De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft. It will initially serve passengers flying to/from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ). The Wi-Fi service will be available gate-to-gate and allow travelers to stay connected for work or entertainment during flights between Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) and Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) or Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW). This is great news for travelers as these are two of Canada’s busiest business travel corridors.
This innovation complements other premium offerings for customers traveling through Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ). These include:
- Frequent departures to key business destinations.
- Complimentary premium snacks, beer, and wine onboard.
- Exclusive access for eligible travelers to the Aspire Air Canada Café.
While Wi-Fi will debut on select routes, Air Canada is evaluating wider fleet installation. Currently, 97% of Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge mainline aircraft are already equipped with next-generation Wi-Fi technology sponsored by Bell. Full fleet completion is expected by 2026.
Another part of the upgrade program revolves around next-generation ergonomic seats designed by Expliseat. These will be installed on 25 Dash 8-400 aircraft. They feature a well-padded, ergonomic design, a multi-use device holder for tablets and smartphones built into the seatback, an integrated table tray, and a fresh design for the seats’ dress covers. Each aircraft will maintain its 78-seat configuration, with seat pitch remaining unchanged.
The Dash 8-400 interiors will be completely redesigned to reflect Air Canada’s mainline cabin style and will create a consistent brand experience across the network. The updated design will draw inspiration from Canada’s natural landscapes, featuring colors, textures, and tones that reflect the country’s geography.
Anthony’s Take: The Dash 8-400 upgrade initiative marks a significant milestone in Air Canada’s ongoing efforts to modernize its fleet and elevate the passenger experience. The world-first Wi-Fi technology, ergonomic seating, and reimagined interiors will be welcome changes for passengers.
(Image Credits: Air Canada.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
