Air Canada has confirmed the major upgrade of its regional fleet with the De Havilland Dash 8-400 front and centre.
As part of a significant investment, the flag-carrier will enhance 25 of the Q-400 aircraft, which operate for Air Canada Express by Jazz Aviation, to bring them up to speed with counterparts around the world.
The move will be implemented by mid-2026 and will involve a complete redesign of the cabin, focusing on new interiors, seating, and free Wi-Fi on select existing services.
Air Canada’s adoption of fast, free Wi-Fi aboard the Dash 8-400 represents an industry first for the aircraft type and a sign of what’s to come as the flag-carrier attempts to up its game in regional connectivity.
Wi-Fi will be offered initially for those flying to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, with gate-to-gate connectivity, when travelling between the city airports of Montreal and Ottawa, which is critical for business travel.
Air Canada stated in its comments that it understands the importance of serving Canadian communities, and the innovative project, being an industry first, symbolises this importance and recognition of the need to continue finding ways to benefit customers.
The Other Air Canada Changes
Twenty-five of the Dash 8s will feature next-generation seating as part of the investment, which will focus on being well-padded and ergonomic.
We’re pleased to partner with Air Canada on these exciting upgrades to our Dash 8-400 fleet. This investment in innovative seating, refreshed cabin interiors, and industry-leading onboard Wi-Fi reflects our shared commitment to safety, operational excellence, and delivering exceptional customer service.
Doug Clarke, President of Jazz
The aircraft will see its seat count sit at 78, and seat pitch will remain unchanged, with a program completion expected by mid-2026.
The cabins will aim to incorporate these changes, making them more reflective of their other mainstream aircraft interiors by adopting more of the colours, textures, and tones present here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Daniel Fowkes is a Melbourne-based aviation analyst and journalist with over a decade of industry experience. As founder of Dj’s Aviation, he delivers trusted analysis on aircraft, airline strategy and global aviation trends for djsaviation.net
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