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Air Canada Express
Founded3 May 2011
Hubs
Focus cities
Frequent-flyer program Aeroplan
Alliance Star Alliance (affiliate)
Fleet size 117
Parent company Air Canada
Headquarters Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Air Canada Express is a brand name of regional feeder flights for Air Canada that are subcontracted to other airlines. Presently, Jazz Aviation and PAL Airlines are the sole operators of Air Canada Express flights. They primarily connect smaller cities with Air Canada's domestic hub airports and focus cities, although they offer some point-to-point and international service to the United States.

History

On 26 April 2011, it was reported that Air Canada decided to retire the Air Canada Jazz brand and created the Air Canada Express brand. [1] Prior to establishing the Express name, the flights operated primarily under the Air Canada Jazz or Air Canada Alliance banners.

As of January 2020, Air Georgian no longer provides services under the capacity purchase agreement. Those services were transferred back to Jazz Aviation. On 1 March 2021, it was also announced that Sky Regional would also no longer provide services under the capacity purchase agreement and therefore Jazz Aviation would become the sole operator of the express brand. [2]

However, on 30 May 2023, it was announced that Air Canada has signed a letter of intent with PAL Airlines for a five-year capacity purchase agreement. If finalized, this deal will involve the purchase of up to six de Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 planes from Air Canada, which PAL Airlines will operate under the Air Canada Express brand in addition to their existing schedule and charter business. [3] [4] In the announcement, Air Canada described the prospective agreement with PAL Airlines as a "bridging arrangement" due to a need for additional regional capacity as a result of industry-wide pilot shortages. [4]

Destinations

Operators and fleet

Air Canada Express De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 in the current livery.
Air Canada Jazz CRJ200ER in a former livery.
Air Canada Express Embraer 175 in a former livery.

Current fleet

As of September 2023, the fleet consists of the following aircraft: [5] [6]

Air Canada Express fleet
Operator Aircraft In service Passengers
J Y Total
Jazz Aviation De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 39 78 78
Bombardier CRJ200 [a] 7 50 50
Bombardier CRJ900 [b] 35 12 64 76
Embraer 175 25 12 64 76
PAL Airlines De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 11 76 76
Total 117

Historical fleet

The Air Canada Express brand, through its various regional and commuter airline partners, operated a variety of turbofan and twin turboprop aircraft over the years including the following types:

See also

Notes

  1. ^ as "Mitsubishi CRJ200" on Air Canada website.
  2. ^ as "Mitsubishi CRJ900" on Air Canada website.

References

  1. ^ "Air Canada Launches New Regional Brand". Financial Post. 2011-04-26. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  2. ^ "Air Canada Revises the Terms of its Capacity Purchase Agreement with Chorus Aviation for Regional Flying". News Release Archive. Retrieved 2021-03-04.
  3. ^ "PAL Airlines inches closer to deal to fly more routes under Air Canada Express brand". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2023-05-30. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  4. ^ a b "Air Canada Partners With PAL Airlines To Boost Regional Connectivity". Simple Flying. 2023-05-30. Archived from the original on 2023-06-06. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  5. ^ "Our Fleet". Air Canada. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  6. ^ "Air Canada Express Fleet Details and History".

External links