AirCanada

AirCanada is Canada's largest airline and flag carrier. The airline, founded in 1937, has its corporate headquarters in Montreal, Quebec. The airline provides scheduled and charter air transportation for passengers and cargo to over 240 destinations and vacation packages to over 90 destinations via AirCanada Vacations. AirCanada is the world's 12th largest airline by fleet size and its largest hub is Toronto Pearson International Airport. AirCanada's parent company is ACE Aviation Holdings. AirCanada is a founding member of Star Alliance, the largest airline alliance in the world. It was formed in 1997 and now has 18 member airlines. On January 19, 2007, the airline was voted Best Airline in North America.[1] In 2006, roughly 32 million people flew with AirCanada.

In 2007, AirCanada celebrates its 70th anniversary as an airline.
Contents
[hide]

* 1 History
o 1.1 Trans-Canada Airlines
o 1.2 AirCanada in the '80s and '90s
o 1.3 2000 and beyond
* 2 Modernisation
o 2.1 Project XM
o 2.2 GO Discount
* 3 Destinations
* 4 New routes
* 5 Passenger fleet
o 5.1 Jazz fleet
o 5.2 Historic fleet
* 6 Maple Leaf Lounge
* 7 Onboard
o 7.1 Executive First (International Premium Business / First Class)
o 7.2 Executive Class (North American First Class)
o 7.3 Premium Economy Class
o 7.4 Economy Class
o 7.5 Boarding passes
o 7.6 In-flight food
o 7.7 Entertainment
o 7.8 Newspapers and Magazines
* 8 Subsidiaries and partners
o 8.1 Aeroplan
o 8.2 AirCanada Cargo
o 8.3 AirCanada Ground Handling Services
o 8.4 AirCanada Jazz (Jazz Air LP)
o 8.5 AirCanada Jetz
o 8.6 AirCanada Technical Services
o 8.7 AirCanada Vacations
o 8.8 Partners
o 8.9 Code sharing
o 8.10 Former subsidiaries
* 9 Other information
* 10 Accidents
* 11 Incidents
* 12 External links
* 13 References

[edit] History

[edit] Trans-Canada Airlines
L-10A Electra "CF-TCC" in Trans-Canada Air Lines livery at the Western Canada Aviation Museum.
L-10A Electra "CF-TCC" in Trans-Canada Air Lines livery at the Western Canada Aviation Museum.

Trans-Canada Airlines (TCA) was created as a subsidiary of Canadian National Railway (CNR) on April 10, 1937. Passenger operations began on September 1, with a Lockheed 10A carrying two passengers and mail from Vancouver to Seattle. The company was headquartered in Winnipeg which was also the site of the national maintenance base. In 1949, federal policy dictated the headquarters move to Montreal. Later the maintenance base also moved east which was a significant blow to western Canada. In the 1950s AirCanada did pioneering work in the use of computer reservation systems with the development of the ReserVec system. By 1964, TCA had grown to become Canada's national airline and in 1964 Jean Chrétien submitted a private member's bill to change the name of the airline from Trans-Canada Airlines to AirCanada. This bill failed but it was resubmitted and passed, with the name change taking effect on January 1, 1965. In a late 1970s reorganisation at CNR, AirCanada became an independent Crown corporation.
[edit] AirCanada in the '80s and '90s

In 1987, AirCanada became the first airline in the world to have a fleet-wide non-smoking policy [1], and in 1989 became completely privatised. AirCanada sold the enRoute card business to Diners Club in 1992. AirCanada is a founding member of the Star Alliance, which was launched in May 1997. The airline continues to code-share with Star Alliance members.

On September 2, 1998 pilots for AirCanada launched the company's first pilots' strike. At the end of 1999 the Canadian government relaxed some of the aviation regulations, aimed at creating a consolidation of the Canadian airline industry.

[edit] 2000 and beyond

In January 2000 AirCanada acquired Canada's second largest air carrier, Canadian Airlines, subsequently merging the latter's operations into its own. As a result AirCanada became the world's twelfth-largest commercial airline.

On April 1, 2003, AirCanada filed for bankruptcy protection, emerging from this protection on September 30, 2004, 19 months later. ACE Aviation Holdings is the new parent company under which the reorganised AirCanada is held.

In October 2004, the airline hired Celine Dion, as part of a new promotional campaign showcasing newly designed employee uniforms and a new aircraft livery. You And I , performed by Dion, was written by an advertising executive working for AirCanada. This campaign was not without controversy. At the time of the new branding, the airline had just emerged from bankruptcy protection resulting in the lay-off of thousand of employees. Concessions by the unions, significantly reduced the numbers laid off through wage reductions, work rule concessions, voluntary severance packages and voluntary leave of absence programs. Union leaders characterised the spending on this campaign as money wasted, which could have been better used to improve service and to reduce the negative impact, both financially, and through work rule concessions, that restructuring had on employees. AirCanada claimed the expenditures on the celebrity endorsement and personal appearances by Dion, was money well spent, both, for improved employee morale, and for the broader public advertising campaign.

On October 31, 2004, the last AirCanada Boeing 747 flights landed in Toronto and in Montreal, ending more than 30 years of 747 service with the airline. The Boeing 747-400 fleet was replaced by the A340 fleet.

In November 2005, AirCanada, in an experiment to reduce aircraft weight and increase fuel efficiency, removed the paint and primer from a Boeing 767-233ER. However, the cost of the aluminum skin polishing and treatments turned out to be greater than the cost of the fuel saved, and as well was regarded as aesthetically displeasing.

In November 2005, AirCanada stopped serving hot meals to all economy class seats for flights within Canada and the United States (except for certain Vancouver-Toronto flights inbound/outbound to Asia as well as Toronto-Los Angeles flights and other nonstop flights within North America longer than 5 hours). A selection of cold foods has been made available for purchase on those flights via the pay-as-you-go service "Onboard Cafe/Café en vol".

As of January 2005, AirCanada employed 29,198 staff.

[edit] Modernisation
2004-present AirCanada livery on an Airbus A330-300
2004-present AirCanada livery on an Airbus A330-300
1994-2004 AirCanada livery on an Airbus A330-300
1994-2004 AirCanada livery on an Airbus A330-300
1988-1996 AirCanada livery on a Boeing 747-400
1988-1996 AirCanada livery on a Boeing 747-400

On November 9, 2005, AirCanada entered into an agreement to renew its widebody fleet with Boeing by purchasing 18 Boeing 777s (10 -300ERs, 6 -200LRs, 2 777 Freighters), and 14 Boeing 787-8s. It also placed options to purchase an additional 18 Boeing 777s and 46 Boeing 787-8s and 9s.[2] All of the 777s will be powered by the GE90-115B engine, and the 787-8s, by the GEnx engine.[2] Along with Air France-KLM, AirCanada is a launch customer for the 777 Freighter. Deliveries of the 777s began in March 2007 and deliveries of the 787s are to begin in 2010. As the 777s are delivered, AirCanada will gradually retire its A340 fleet, and as the 787s are delivered, it will gradually retire all Boeing 767s and A330-300s.[3]

AirCanada has also taken delivery of 15 Embraer 175s and is in process of taking delivery of 45 Embraer 190s. It also holds options on an additional 60 Embraer 190s. These aircraft are being used to expand its intra-Canada and Canada/USA routes. Additionally, some of the Embraer 190s will replace older A319//A320s.

[edit] Project XM

Started in July 2006, and scheduled to be completed by early 2008, Project XM: Extreme Makeover, is a $300-million CAD ($259-million USD) aircraft interior replacement project to install new cabins on all aircraft, excepting the soon to be replaced A340s. New aircraft being delivered already have the new features.[4]

New cabin features include:

* In Executive First, new lie flat executive suites in a 'herringbone pattern'
* New cabins in all classes on all aircraft (excepting the A340s)
* Personal AVOD (8.9" touch-screen LCD) in all classes (domestic and international) providing over 80 hours video and 50 hours of audio. Larger screens are available in Executive First.
* Interactive games
* 3-prong plugs for laptops
* USB ports to recharge iPods and BlackBerry devices

The aircraft refurbished with new interiors, denoted with a red star, can be found at:[5].

More detailed information on the Project XM interiors is available in the Onboard section below.

[edit] GO Discount

In 2006, the airline began offering customers a modest rebate (termed the "GO Discount") in exchange for foregoing their checked baggage allowance.



AirCanada Boeing 767-300
AirCanada Boeing 767-300

[edit] Destinations

AirCanada operates flights to 240 destinations in Canada, The USA, Latin America, Europe, Australia and Asia.

Further information: AirCanada destinations

[edit] New routes

* On April 01, 2007, using Bombardier 50 passenger CRJ equipment, AirCanada Jazz began daily non-stop service between Halifax and New York City-La Guardia airport.[6]

* On May 04, 2007, using Airbus A319 equipment, AirCanada will introduce daily non-stop service between Toronto and Deer Lake.[7]

* On June 01, 2007 until September 30, 2007, using Boeing 767-200ER equipment, AirCanada will introduce seasonal daily non-stop service between Montreal and Rome Fiumicino airport.[8]

* On June 01, 2007, using Bombardier 50 passenger CRJ equipment, AirCanada Jazz will introduce daily non-stop services from Calgary to Prince George and Seattle, and effective June 15, 2007, from Vancouver to Sacramento. [9]

* On June 15, 2007 until September 16, 2007, using Airbus A319 equipment, AirCanada will introduce seasonal daily non-stop service between Edmonton and Halifax.[10]

* On December 14, 2007, using Boeing 777 equipment, AirCanada will introduce daily non-stop service between Vancouver and Sydney, Australia, replacing the current one-stop routing via Honolulu. [11]

[edit] Passenger fleet

AirCanada will be the first North American operator of the Boeing 777-200LR and Boeing 777-300ER. The fleet consists of the following aircraft, as of March 2007: [12]
AirCanada Fleet Aircraft Total Passengers
(Executive*/Economy) Routes Notes
Airbus A319 new interior 2
old interior 43 new interior
120 (14/106)
old interior
120 (14/106) North/Central/South America Project XM to be completed by early 2008
Airbus A320 new interior 23
old interior 22 new interior
140 (20/120)
old interior
140 (20/120) North America Project XM to be completed by early 2008
Airbus A321 old interior 10 old interior
166 (24/142) North America Project XM to be completed by early 2008
Airbus A330-300 old interior 8 old interior
274 (42/232) Medium/Longhaul Atlantic & Pacific Project XM to be completed by early 2008
Aircraft to be replaced by B787 starting in 2010
Airbus A340-300 old interior 10 old interior
286 (30/256) Medium/Longhaul Atlantic & Pacific New interiors will not be installed
Aircraft to be replaced by B777-300ER starting in April 2007
Airbus A340-500 old interior 2 old interior
267 (42/225) Longhaul Pacific New interiors will not be installed
Aircraft to be replaced by B777-200LR starting in June 2007
Boeing 767-200/200ER old interior 11 old interior
207 (24/183) intra-Canada & Canada/USA
Medium/Longhaul Atlantic & Caribbean Project XM to be completed by early 2008
Aircraft to be replaced by B787 starting in 2010
Boeing 767-300ER new interior 5
old interior 27 new interior
211 (24/187)
old interior
212 (25/187)
212 (30/182)
213 (25/188) Medium/Longhaul Atlantic/Pacific/South America Project XM to be completed by early 2008
Aircraft to be replaced by B787 starting in 2010
Boeing 777-200LR (6 orders) new interior
270 (42/228) Longhaul Toronto-Hong Kong Project XM factory-fitted
Will replace A340-500 starting in June 2007
Boeing 777-300ER new interior 1
(10 orders) 349 (42/307) Medium/Longhaul Atlantic & Pacific Project XM factory-fitted
Will replace A340-300 starting in April 2007
Boeing 777F (2 orders) n/a Cargo Orders were changed to more PAX 777s late 2006.
Boeing 787-8 (14 orders) unknown Medium/Longhaul Atlantic & Pacific Project XM factory-fitted
Will replace all B767 variants and A330-300 starting in 2010
Embraer 175 new interior 15 new interior
73 (9/64) intra-Canada & Canada/USA Project XM completed
Embraer 190 new interior 20
(25 orders) new interior
93 (9/84) intra-Canada & Canada/USA Project XM factory-fitted

*Executive Class is offered on domestic flights, Executive First on international flights.

AirCanada has options for 18 more Boeing 777s, 46 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 60 Embraer E190s.

In February 2007, AirCanada's fleet was on average 9.7 years old.[3]

[edit] Jazz fleet

AirCanada's Subsidiary, AirCanada Jazz has a separate fleet consisting of 133 of the following aircraft as of October 2006:

Main article: AirCanada Jazz
AirCanada Jazz Fleet Aircraft Number Passengers
(Executive*/Economy) Notes
Bombardier CRJ 100ER 23 50
Bombardier CRJ 200ER 35 50
Bombardier CRJ 705 15 75 (10/65) Project XM completed
Bombardier Dash 8 100/200 34 (originally 54) 37 Twin-Turboprop
Bombardier Dash 8 300 26 A:48
B:50 Twin-Turboprop

*Executive Class is only available on Bombardier CRJ 705 aircraft
(AVOD) audio-video on demand

[edit] Historic fleet

List of aircraft that AirCanada has operated from 1937 to today (click on link for a photo):
The last three of AirCanada's Boeing 747s were retired by 2004.
The last three of AirCanada's Boeing 747s were retired by 2004.
AirCanada's Boeing 727s were retired in 1992.
AirCanada's Boeing 727s were retired in 1992.
Type Used Picture
Avro Lancastrian 1943-1947 [13]
BAe 146-200 1990-2005 [14]
Boeing 727-200 1974-1992 [15]
Boeing 737-200 1976-2004 [16]
Boeing 747-100 1971-1998 [17]
Boeing 747-200M (Combi) 1975-1999 [18][19]
Boeing 747-400 1990-2003 [20][21]
Boeing 747-400M (Combi) 1990-2004 [22][23]
Bombardier CRJ 100ER 1994-2006 now with AC Jazz
Bristol 31 1953-1955 [24]
Canadair North Star 1946-1961 [25]
Douglas DC-3 1945-1963 [26]
Douglas DC-8-40 -50 -60 -70 1960-1983 [27]
Douglas DC-9-30 1966-2002 [28]
Douglas DC-10 From Canadian Airlines 1971-2001 [29]
Fokker F28 1986-2004 [30]
Lockheed Super Constellation 1954-1963 [31]
Lockheed L-1011 -1 -15 -100 -500 1973-1996 [32]
Lockheed Model 10 Electra 1937-1941 [33]
Lockheed Model 14 Super Electra 1941-1949 [34]
Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar 1941-1949 [35]
Stearman 1937-1939 [36]
Vickers Vanguard 1961-1972 [37]
Vickers Viscount 1955-1974 [38]

[edit] Maple Leaf Lounge

These lounges are open to passengers holding Executive First, or Executive class tickets. Super Elite, Elite, and for a charge, Prestige passengers can also use the lounges. Star alliance Gold passengers can also enter the lounges.

* Calgary International Airport - domestic and international concourse A
* Edmonton International Airport - domestic and international south terminal
* Halifax International Airport - domestic and international
* London Heathrow Airport Terminal 3
* Los Angeles International Airport
* Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport - domestic, transborder and international
* Ottawa International Airport - domestic and international
* Charles de Gaulle International Airport - International
* Québec/Jean Lesage International Airport - domestic
* Regina International Airport
* St. John's International Airport
* Toronto Pearson International Airport
o Terminal 1 Domestic - Node E Level 3 , Transborder - Node F level 3, International - HammerHead F Level 3
* Vancouver International Airport - domestic, transborder and international
* Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport - domestic and international

[edit] Onboard

AirCanada has two classes on all aircraft. All Atlantic/Pacific/South American wide-body aircraft have Executive First and Economy Class, with the exception of the Boeing 767-200/-200ER which have Premium Economy Class and Economy Class. All North/Central/South American narrow-body aircraft and all North American Boeing 767s have Executive Class and Economy Class.

AirCanada Jazz has two classes of service, Executive and Economy class, on its CRJ-705 aircraft. All other Jazz aircraft are one class service (Economy).

[edit] Executive First (International Premium Business / First Class)

Executive First is AirCanada’s international premium business class product. Executive First features on all international aircraft except the B767-200/B767-200ER which is sometimes used on low-density European routes.

Project XM Cabin: Will be available on all aircraft by 2008.

Executive First offers electronic flat beds, in a 1-1-1 (Boeing 767-300ER) or 1-1-1-1 (Boeing 777) "herringbone" configuration with a 21" seat width and 75" pitch. The configuration is similar in layout to Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class Suite and Air New Zealand's Business Premier Class products. Entertainment is personal AVOD (Audio Video On Demand), while music is provided by XM satellite radio.

Non-Project XM Cabin:

On the A330-300, A340-300 and the majority of B767-300 aircraft (at present), seats are electronic lie flat reclining to 151 degrees, with a width of 21” and a pitch of 57-60”. Seat configuration is 2-2-2 on Airbus aircraft, with 1-2-2 or 2-2-1 seating on the Boeing aircraft, depending on tail fin. Entertainment is personal AVOD (Audio Video On Demand) on the A330-300 and some A340-300s and B767-300s (in the form of DVD players on these B767s). On other A340-300s and some B767-300s, personal continuous TVs are offered. Music is provided by XM satellite radio. On the A340-500, seats are electronic flat beds reclining to 180 degrees, with a width of 21" and a pitch of 63". Entertainment is personal AVOD (Audio Video On Demand), while music is provided by XM satellite radio.
AirCanada Airbus A330-300 taking off
AirCanada Airbus A330-300 taking off

[edit] Executive Class (North American First Class)

Executive Class is AirCanada’s North American first class product.

Project XM Cabin: Will be available on all aircraft by 2008.

Seat configuration varies between 1-2, 2-2 and 2-2-2 depending on the aircraft. Recline is around 120-130 degrees, with a width of 18-21” and a pitch of 37-39”. Entertainment is personal AVOD (Audio Video On Demand), while music is provided by XM satellite radio.

Non-Project XM Cabin:

Seat configuration varies between 1-2, 2-2 and 2-2-2 depending on the aircraft. Recline is around 120-130 degrees, with a width of 18-21” and a pitch of 37-39”. Entertainment is provided in the form of main screen entertainment.

[edit] Premium Economy Class

Premium Economy is offered on international B767-200 aircraft on routes mostly to Europe. The cabin is the North American Executive Class cabin sold as Premium Economy.

Project XM Cabin: Will be available on all aircraft by 2008.

None of the B767-200s have yet been refitted.

Non-Project XM Cabin:

Seats are pitched at 38-44” with a recline of 18” in a 2-2-2 configuration. Main screen entertainment is currently offered. The main cabin entertainment is presented on overhead ceiling monitors and on the bulkeads at the front of the cabins. Recorded CBC news and Hollywood movies are shown. Music is provided by XM satellite radio.
AirCanada Airbus A340-300 landing
AirCanada Airbus A340-300 landing

[edit] Economy Class

Economy Class (previously named Hospitality Class) features on all aircraft.

Project XM Cabin: Will be available on all aircraft by 2008.

Seats are pitched 31-34” with a width of 17-18.5"” and a recline to around 6". Entertainment is personal AVOD (Audio Video On Demand), while music is provided by XM satellite radio.

Non-Project XM Cabin:

Seats are pitched 31-34” with a width of 17-18.5"” and a recline to around 6". Main screen entertainment is offered except on the A340-500, where entertainment is personal AVOD (Audio Video On Demand). The main cabin entertainment is presented on overhead ceiling monitors and on the bulkheads at the front of the cabins. Recorded CBC news and Hollywood movies are shown. Music on all aircraft is provided by XM satellite radio.

[edit] Boarding passes

The letter on a boarding pass corresponds to the named classes shown on the website, a rough breakdown as listed on the 2007 Aeroplan upgrade certificates follows: Tango (R, I, N, G, P, E, T), Tango Plus (B, H, V, Q, L, A), Latitude (M, U), Latitude Plus (Y) and Executive (J, C).

[edit] In-flight food

AirCanada offers a variety of meals on intercontinental routes, depending on seat class, destination and flight length. They do not offer food on most Canadian and US flights, but do offer hot meals and snacks on flights longer than five hours. A selection of cold food has been made for purchase on-board, paid in either US or Canadian dollars. Beverages like coffee, tea, juices and soft drinks are still free on domestic/US flights, but passengers are required to pay for alcohol.

[edit] Entertainment

Movies and music are available on all flights, but the duration varies depending on distance flown. Disposable head sets are provided free to all passengers and can be kept for future flights. Television news broadcast, Enroute Journal, are produced by CBC and RDI. The programs broadcasts short news, sports, weather and business summaries. Additional programming are provided by CNN International and Dave Chalk Connected. [39]

[edit] Newspapers and Magazines

Newspapers, magazines are available to business/first class passengers on AirCanada flights. AirCanada's in-flight magazine, enRoute, is provided to all passengers on all flights.

[edit] Subsidiaries and partners

[edit] Aeroplan

* In June 2005, a portion of Aeroplan was spun off by ACE Aviation Holdings as an Income trust on the Toronto Stock Exchange. ACE Aviation Holding is still the major shareholder. (Subsidiary of ACE Aviation)

[edit] AirCanada Cargo

Main Article: AirCanada Cargo

* AirCanada Cargo Limited Partnership offers cargo services on domestic and transborder flights, utilising the cargo capacity on aircraft operated by AirCanada and Jazz on domestic and transborder routes. AirCanada offers cargo services on its international passenger flights and also uses chartered, all-freighter aircraft for Canada - Europe and Canada - Asia services. (Subsidiary of AirCanada)

[edit] AirCanada Ground Handling Services

* ACGHS provides passenger handling services to AirCanada, Jazz and a number of other carriers with a primary focus on Canadian stations. Services covered include "above and below the wing" passenger and baggage handling services and ancillary services such as de-icing, ground support and equipment maintenance. (Subsidiary of AirCanada)

[edit] AirCanada Jazz (Jazz Air LP)

In 2001, AirCanada consolidated Air BC, Air Nova, Air Ontario and Canadian Regional Airlines into AirCanada Jazz. ACE Aviation Holdings is a major shareholder. In early February 2006, a portion of Jazz Air LP was spun off by ACE Aviation Holdings as an Income trust on the Toronto Stock Exchange. (Subsidiary of ACE Aviation)

[edit] AirCanada Jetz

* Launched in 2002, AirCanada Jetz is a charter service for sports teams and professionals. AirCanada Jetz uses A320 aircraft in an all business class configuration.

[edit] AirCanada Technical Services

* ACTS is a full-service Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) organisation that provides airframe, engine and component maintenance and various ancillary services to more than 100 customers. Major bases are in Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver. (Subsidiary of ACE Aviation)

[edit] AirCanada Vacations

* AirCanada Vacations offers a wide selection of sun, cruise and leisure vacation packages to the most popular destinations in the Caribbean, Florida, Hawaii, Mexico, Las Vegas, Central and South America, and Asia. (Subsidiary of ACE Aviation)

[edit] Partners

* AirCanada's regional partners include AirCanada Jazz, Exploits Valley Air Services (EVAS)[40], Air Georgian, and Central Mountain Air.

* AirCanada is a founding member of the Star Alliance

[edit] Code sharing

AirCanada codeshares with several airlines such as United, Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines, Air New Zealand, Austrian Airlines as well as other members of the Star Alliance.

[edit] Former subsidiaries

* In 2001, AirCanada launched AirCanada Tango, which offered no-frills service and lower fares between major cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and also to some holiday destinations such as Fort Lauderdale. Tango aircraft were painted with the AirCanada design but in purple. It is thought that Tango was intended to be AirCanada's vehicle for competing against the low cost carriers Canada 3000 and WestJet. The Tango service was dissolved in 2004. AirCanada now calls their lowest fare class "Tango" (Tango and Tango Plus), paying homage to the low-cost experiment.

* In 2002, AirCanada launched Zip, a discount airline to compete directly with WestJet on routes in Western Canada. Zip operated as a separate airline with its own staff and brightly painted aircraft. It also was disbanded in 2004.

[edit] Other information

* AirCanada was one of the first airlines to have its entire fleet of unpressurised aircraft equipped with fixed oxygen systems for use by flight crew and passengers, using the rebreathing bag principle.
* AirCanada was the first airline to operate a jet freighter with the introduction of the DC-8.
* AirCanada became the first major airline with an all turbine fleet which allowed an increase in productivity and reduction in maintenance costs.
* AirCanada became the first airline in the world to introduce a system-wide Non-Smoking policy.
* AirCanada in 1953 became the first airline to operate a Computer reservations system with remote terminals called ReserVec.
* AirCanada was the first airline in Canada to operate the Airbus A320, and the first North American carrier to operate the A319, the first of which was introduced on the Toronto-Boston route.
* AirCanada became the first airline in the world to offer all its customers telephones at arm's reach on all of its aircraft.
* The Electronic ticket made its debut in Canada when AirCanada began testing the service on selected Canadian routes. It was phased in across Canada and on transborder routes during 1996.
* AirCanada became the first major airline in Canada to offer E-mail sell-offs with AC WEBSAVER.
* AirCanada became the first commercial airline to enable passengers to send and receive e-mail on their laptops while in flight, as well as surf websites.
* AirCanada was the first, and continues to be the only North American operator of the A340-300 and A340-500.
* In 1997, AirCanada repainted an Airbus A319 in the Trans-Canada retro livery.
* AirCanada is the official carrier of the Toronto Raptors basketball team. One of its Airbus A320s was repainted to honour the team with the raptor dinosaur logo on an all-black fuselage, earning it the nickname "Dino-bus".
* AirCanada unveiled a new aircraft colour scheme, and blue uniforms, on 19 October 2004. A Boeing 767-300 was painted in a silvery colour with a blue tint. The green tail has been replaced with the same silvery paint, but retains a version of the red maple leaf.
* AirCanada was the winner of Best North American Airline in the 2005 World Airline Awards
* AirCanada is the creator of the Dreams Take Flight program which flies children with special needs to Disneyland for a day.
* On September 18, 2006, AirCanada and ITA Software finalised the contract in which ITA will build a new reservations management system for the carrier, replacing the antiquated RES III system from IBM. [41] (pdf)

[edit] Accidents

* November 29, 1963: Trans-Canada Air Lines Flight 831, a McDonnell Douglas DC-8, stalled on takeoff out of Montreal-Dorval International Airport. All 118 lives were lost on board, making it one of the worst air disasters in Canadian history.
* May 19, 1967: McDonnell Douglas DC-8, crashed and burned on a training flight while attempting a three-engine landing at Ottawa, Ontario. All 3 crew members were killed. There were no passengers on the flight.
* July 5, 1970: Flight 621 McDonnell Douglas DC-8 exploded from a fuel line rupture caused by engine 4 striking the runway in Toronto, Ontario during the first landing attempt. All 109 passengers/crew were killed.
* June 26, 1978: Flight 189 McDonnell Douglas DC-9 overran the runway in Toronto after a blown tire aborted the takeoff. 2 of 107 passengers/crew were killed.
* June 2, 1983: Flight 797 McDonnell Douglas DC-9 had an electrical fire in the aft lavatory during flight, resulting in an emergency landing at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. During emergency egress, the sudden influx of oxygen caused a flash fire throughout the cabin, resulting in the deaths of 23 of the 41 passengers, including Canadian folk singer Stan Rogers. All five crew members survived.
* July 23, 1983: Flight 143 Boeing 767 made an emergency landing in Gimli, Manitoba after running out of fuel. No one was injured. This incident was the subject of the TV movie, Falling from the Sky: Flight 174, starring William Devane, and the book, Freefall, by William Hoffer.
* December 16, 1997: AirCanada Flight 646 Bombardier Canadair CRJ-100 went off the end of the runway upon landing in Fredericton, New Brunswick. There were no fatalities.

[edit] Incidents

* June 21, 1973: McDonnell Douglas DC-8, caught fire and was burnt out during refuelling at Terminal 2, Toronto, Ontario; no fatalities.
* June 2, 1982: McDonnell Douglas DC-9 exploded during a maintenance period in Montreal, Quebec; no fatalities.
* September 14, 2001: AirCanada Flight 792, an Airbus A320, was preparing for departure to Calgary, Alberta from Toronto when a passenger noticed loose, clearly visible X-acto knives in the overhead bins. It is unknown whether the knives were onboard the aircraft on September 11, when it had been scheduled to fly from Toronto to New York City but was grounded following the attacks on the World Trade Center. CNN article
* September 27, 2001: AirCanada Flight 792 Boeing 767 was bound from Los Angeles to Toronto, but was returned to Los Angeles after an Iranian passenger was caught smoking in a lavatory, saying that he was making anti-American threats, taking place a half hour into the flight. The pilot returned to LAX, escorted by two F-16 jet fighter aircraft.
* November 19, 2006: AirCanada Flight 038 Boeing 767-300 was bound from Shanghai, China to Vancouver suffered severe turbulence and made an emergency landing at Tokyo's Narita International Airport. 4 flight attendants were sent to hospital. Flights in and out of Shanghai are notorious for turbulence problems.