Air Canada Revamps Fleet as Part of New Service-Based Strategy

Air Canada has begun deploying new, bigger, more fuel-efficient, two-class regional jets as part of a strategy to enhance service in North America and add more markets and nonstop flights between Canada and the U.S.

The airline unveiled its Embraer 175, for which the airline is the launch customer, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Toronto. The airline has received its first three and expects to get the other 12 it ordered by December.

The aircraft are being phased in on routes linking Toronto with Washington (Reagan National), Philadelphia and Atlanta, replacing 50-seat, all-coach regional jets. Air Canada also plans to use the Embraer 175 for service from Toronto to Boston and Newark, and from Montreal to New York (LaGuardia) and Chicago.

In November, Air Canada also should receive the first of 45 Embraer 190 aircraft it ordered. Those will have nine seats in business class, also with 38 inches of legroom, and 84 seats in coach with 33 inches of legroom.