View source for Air Canada

{{About|the airline|the basketball player nicknamed "Air Canada"|Vince Carter}}{{Short description|Flag carrier and largest airline of Canada}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023|cs1-dates=y}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline = Air Canada
| logo = Air Canada 2017.svg
| image = Air Canada Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner C-FVND approaching EWR Airport.jpg
| caption = An Air Canada [[Boeing 787-9]]
| IATA = AC
| ICAO = ACA<ref name=ICAO>{{CanICAOD|Air Canada|ACA|AIR CANADA|1|2023-02-24}}</ref>
| callsign = AIR CANADA<ref name=ICAO/>
| aoc = {{ubli|Canada: 5262<ref>{{TCAOC|28 August 2019|52-62|Air+Canada}}</ref>|{{nowrap|United States: ARNF245C<ref name="FAA">{{Cite web|url=https://av-info.faa.gov/detail.asp?DSGN_CODE=ARNF&OPER_FAR=129&OPER_NAME=AIR+CANADA|title=Federal Aviation Administration – Airline Certificate Information – Detail View|publisher=Federal Aviation Administration|access-date=27 June 2019|archive-date=25 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725004848/https://av-info.faa.gov/detail.asp?DSGN_CODE=ARNF&OPER_FAR=129&OPER_NAME=AIR%20CANADA|url-status=live}}</ref>}}}}
| hubs = {{ubl|class=nowrap 
  | [[Montréal–Trudeau International Airport|Montréal–Trudeau]]
  | [[Toronto Pearson International Airport|Toronto–Pearson]]
  | [[Vancouver International Airport|Vancouver]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/about/corporate-profile.html#/home: | title=Air Canada Corporate Profile }}</ref>
  }}
| focus_cities = {{ubl|class=nowrap
  | [[Calgary International Airport|Calgary]]
  | [[Halifax Stanfield International Airport|Halifax]]
  | [[Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport|Ottawa]]}}
| frequent_flyer = [[Aeroplan]]
| alliance = [[Star Alliance]]
| fleet_size = [[Air Canada fleet|353]] (including subsidiaries)
| destinations = [[List of Air Canada destinations|192]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Air Canada on ch-aviation |url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/airline/AC |access-date=9 November 2023 |website=ch-aviation |language=en |archive-date=2024-08-16  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816163620/https://www.ch-aviation.com/airlines/AC |url-status=live }}</ref>
| parent = 
| num_employees = 35,700(2023)<ref name="auto">{{cite web | title=Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition for Air Canada, Q4 2023 | url=https://filecache.investorroom.com/mr5ircnw_aircanada/532/Q4_2023_Air_Canada_MDA.pdf | publisher=Air Canada | date=February 16, 2024 | access-date=2024-04-12  | archive-date=2024-04-14  | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240414013445/https://filecache.investorroom.com/mr5ircnw_aircanada/532/Q4_2023_Air_Canada_MDA.pdf | url-status=live }}</ref>
| traded_as = {{tsx|AC}}
| founded = {{start date and age|1937|04|10|df=y|paren=y}} as [[Trans-Canada Air Lines]]
| commenced = {{start date and age|1965|01|01|df=y|paren=y}} as ''Air Canada''
| subsidiaries = {{ubl|class=nowrap
  | [[Air Canada Cargo]]
  | [[Air Canada Express]]
  | [[Air Canada Jetz]]
  | [[Air Canada Rouge]]}}
| headquarters = [[Saint-Laurent, Quebec]], Canada<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aircanada.investorroom.com/contact-us|title=Air Canada - Investor Relations - Contact Us|publisher=Air Canada|access-date=2024-01-31|archive-date=2024-08-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816163620/https://aircanada.investorroom.com/contact-us|url-status=live}}</ref>
| key_people = {{ubl
  | Vagn Sørensen ([[Chairman]])
  | Michael Rousseau ([[President (corporate title)|President]] & [[Chief executive officer|CEO]])<ref>{{cite news|url=https://mraircanada.mediaroom.com/news-releases?item=138088|title=Air Canada announces appointment of Calin Rovinescu as President & Chief Executive Officer; Michael Green appointed to Board of Directors|access-date=January 31, 2024|publisher=Air Canada|df=dmy-all|archive-date=2024-08-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816163622/https://mraircanada.mediaroom.com/news-releases?item=138088|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
| revenue = {{increase}} {{CAD|21.8 billion|link=yes}} (2023)<ref name="2023-financials">{{cite web | title=Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes for Air Canada, Q4 2023 | url=https://filecache.investorroom.com/mr5ircnw_aircanada/531/Q4_2023_Air_Canada_FSN.pdf | publisher=Air Canada | date=February 16, 2024 | access-date=2024-04-12  | archive-date=2024-05-19  | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519070941/https://filecache.investorroom.com/mr5ircnw_aircanada/531/Q4_2023_Air_Canada_FSN.pdf | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="2022 Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes">{{cite web |title=2022 Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes |url=https://filecache.investorroom.com/mr5ircnw_aircanada/412/Q4%202022%20Air%20Canada%20Consolidated%20Financial%20Statements%20Notes%20-%20English.pdf |publisher=Air Canada |access-date=20 March 2023 |archive-date=18 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218021720/https://filecache.investorroom.com/mr5ircnw_aircanada/412/Q4%202022%20Air%20Canada%20Consolidated%20Financial%20Statements%20Notes%20-%20English.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
| operating_income = {{increase}} {{CAD|2.28 billion}} (2023)<ref name="2023-financials"/>
| net_income = {{increase}} {{CAD|2.271 billion}} (2023)<ref name="2023-financials"/>
| assets = {{increase}} {{CAD|30.197 billion}} (2023)<ref name="2023-financials"/>
| website = {{URL|https://www.aircanada.com/|aircanada.com}}
}}

'''Air Canada''' is the [[flag carrier]] and the [[List of largest airlines in North America|largest airline]] of [[Canada]], by size and passengers carried. Air Canada is headquartered in the borough of [[Saint-Laurent, Quebec|Saint-Laurent]] in the city of [[Montreal]]. The airline, founded in 1937, provides scheduled and charter air transport for passengers and cargo to 222 destinations worldwide. It operates major hubs at [[Montréal–Trudeau International Airport|Montréal–Trudeau]], [[Toronto Pearson International Airport|Toronto–Pearson]] and [[Vancouver International Airport|Vancouver]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/acfamily/ |title=About Air Canada – Corporate Profile |website=Aircanada.com |access-date=February 21, 2025 |quote=Air Canada’s three hubs, Toronto (YYZ), the primary global hub, Montreal (YUL), a principal gateway to French and other international markets, Vancouver (YVR) the airline’s premier gateway to the Asia-Pacific, offer Air Canada customers convenient connections under one roof, and Calgary (YYC) As a hub for western Canada and international markets.}}</ref> Air Canada is a founding member of the [[Star Alliance]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Star Alliance Member Airline – Air Canada |url=https://www.staralliance.com/en/members?airlineCode=AC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417050258/http://www.staralliance.com/en/meta/airlines/AC.html |archive-date=17 April 2009 |access-date=January 31, 2024 |website=staralliance.com |publisher=[[Star Alliance]]}}</ref>

Canada's national airline originated from the [[Government of Canada|Canadian federal government]]'s 1936 creation of '''Trans-Canada Air Lines''' ([[Trans-Canada Airlines|TCA]]), which began operating its first [[transcontinental flight]] routes in 1938. In 1965, TCA was renamed Air Canada following government approval. After the [[Airline deregulation|deregulation]] of the Canadian airline market in the 1980s, the airline was privatized in 1988. On 4 January 2000, Air Canada took over its largest rival, [[Canadian Airlines]]. In 2003, the airline filed for [[bankruptcy in Canada|bankruptcy protection]] and in the following year emerged and reorganized under the holding company [[ACE Aviation Holdings]]. In 2019, Air Canada flew 51.5&nbsp;million passengers.<ref>{{cite web |title=2019 Annual Information Form |url=https://www.aircanada.com/content/dam/aircanada/portal/documents/PDF/en/investor/2019_AIF.pdf |website=Air Canada |date=30 March 2020 |access-date=2023-06-05  |archive-date=2024-07-16  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716144203/https://www.aircanada.com/content/dam/aircanada/portal/documents/PDF/en/investor/2019_AIF.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> In October 2021, the [[Government of Canada]] acquired 6.4% of Air Canada in return for financial support to mitigate the impacts from the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Canadian Taxpayers Now Own Part of Air Canada |url=https://ca.travelpulse.com/news/airlines/canadian-taxpayers-now-own-part-of-air-canada.html |access-date=12 October 2021 |website=TravelPulse |archive-date=24 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024172119/https://ca.travelpulse.com/news/airlines/canadian-taxpayers-now-own-part-of-air-canada.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Air Canada has a fleet of [[Airbus A330]], [[Boeing 777]], and [[Boeing 787 Dreamliner]] wide-body aircraft for use on [[Flight length|long-haul]] routes and uses the [[Airbus A320 family]] aircraft (including the A319, A320, and A321 variants), [[Boeing 737 MAX|Boeing 737 MAX 8]], and [[Airbus A220-300]] aircraft on short-haul routes. The carrier's operating divisions include [[Air Canada Cargo]], [[Air Canada Express]], [[Air Canada Jetz]] (private jet charters), and [[Air Canada Rouge]] (leisure airline). Its subsidiary, Air Canada Vacations, provides vacation packages to over 90 destinations. Together with its regional partners, the airline operates on average more than 1,613 scheduled flights daily.<ref name="aircanada report pdf1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/about/corporate-profile.html|title=Air Canada Corporate Profile|website=aircanada.com|publisher=Air Canada|access-date=20 August 2019|archive-date=31 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331211232/https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/about/corporate-profile.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Flight Schedule Air Canada |url=https://airpedia.wiki/flight-tracker-air-canada/ |website=Airpedia |publisher=from the original |access-date=26 December 2023 |page=https://services.aircanada.com/portal/rest/timetable/pdf/ac-timetable-en.pdf |archive-date=2023-12-26  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231226104222/https://airpedia.wiki/flight-tracker-air-canada/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{TOC limit}}

==History==
{{See also|History of aviation in Canada}}

===Trans-Canada Air Lines (1937–1965)===
{{main|Trans-Canada Air Lines}}
Air Canada's predecessor, [[Trans-Canada Air Lines]] (TCA), was created by federal legislation as a subsidiary of [[Canadian National Railway]] (CNR) on 11 April 1937.<ref name=CBCHist /><ref name=aircanadatimeline>{{cite web|url=http://moments.aircanada.com/timeline/|title=Timeline – Air Canada's 80th Anniversary|website=moments.aircanada.com|access-date=25 February 2017|archive-date=27 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181227182709/http://moments.aircanada.com/timeline|url-status=dead}}</ref> The newly created [[Transport Canada|Department of Transport]] under [[Minister of Transport (Canada)|Minister]] [[C. D. Howe]] desired an airline under government control to link cities on the Atlantic coast to those on the Pacific coast. Using $5&nbsp;million in Crown seed money, two [[Lockheed Model 10 Electra]]s and one [[Stearman Aircraft|Boeing Stearman]] biplane were purchased from [[Canadian Airways]]<ref name="CBC timeline">{{cite news | title=Indepth: Air Canada Timeline | date=20 June 2005 | url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/aircanada/timeline.html | publisher=[[CBC News]] | access-date=4 April 2009 | url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060421035635/http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/aircanada/timeline.html |archive-date=21 April 2006}}</ref> and experienced airline executives from [[United Airlines]] and [[American Airlines]] were brought in.<ref name=CBCHist>{{cite news | url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/aircanada/history.html | title=Air Canada History | publisher=[[CBC News]] | date=14 May 2004 | access-date=4 April 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090331113445/http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/aircanada/history.html| archive-date= 31 March 2009| url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Malton Airport 1939 - TCA Lockheed Electra 14H2s (14Hs).jpg|thumb|left|A [[Trans-Canada Air Lines|TCA]] [[Lockheed Model 14 Super Electra]] at [[Malton Airport]], 1939]]
Passenger flights began on 1 September 1937, with an Electra carrying two passengers and mail from [[Vancouver]] to [[Seattle]], a $14.20 round trip,<ref name=CBCHist /> and, on 1 July 1938, TCA hired its first flight attendants.<ref name=makingTCA>Mills, Albert J, Mills, Jean Helms. ''Masculinity and the Making of Trans-Canada Air Lines, 1937–1940: A Feminist Poststructuralist Account''. Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences, March 2006. [http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20090628195147/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3981/is_200603/ai_n17179192/pg_3 findarticles.com] Date accessed: 18 October 2007</ref> Transcontinental routes from Montreal to Vancouver began on 1 April 1939, using 12 [[Lockheed Model 14 Super Electra]]s and six [[Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar]]s.<ref name="CBC timeline"/> By January 1940, the airline had grown to about 579 employees.<ref name=makingTCA/>

[[Canadian Pacific Airlines]] (CP Air) suggested in 1942 a merger with TCA. Prime Minister [[William Lyon Mackenzie King]] rejected the proposal and introduced legislation regulating TCA as the only airline in Canada allowed to provide transcontinental flights. With the increase in air travel after [[World War II]], CP Air was granted one coast-to-coast flight and a few international routes.<ref name=CBCHist />

Originally headquartered in [[Winnipeg]], also the site of its national maintenance base, the federal government moved TCA's headquarters to [[Montreal]] in 1949; the maintenance base would later also move east. With the development of the [[ReserVec]] in 1953, TCA became the first airline in the world to use a [[computer reservation system]] with remote terminals.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vardalas |first=John |title=From DATAR to the FP-6000 |url=https://ewh.ieee.org/reg/7/millennium/fp6000/fp6000_datar.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404053248/http://www.ieee.ca/millennium/fp6000/fp6000_datar.html |archive-date=4 April 2019 |access-date=2024-01-31 |website=[[IEEE]]}}</ref><ref name=awst>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.atwonline.com/magazine/article.html?articleID=2051|title=Air Canada: Celebrating 70 Years of Leadership|magazine=Aviation Week & Space Technology|access-date=11 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100115010750/http://atwonline.com/magazine/article.html?articleID=2051|archive-date=15 January 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Renamed to Air Canada and early years (1965–1990)===
{{Rail freight
|float=right
|title=Revenue passenger-kilometres, scheduled flights only, in millions
|1950|727
|1955|1,551
|1960|3,284
|1965|5,702
|1969|9,074
|1971|10,343
|1975|16,270
|1980|23,752
|1985|21,718
|2000|448,006
|source=ICAO Digest of Statistics for 1950–55, IATA World Air Transport Statistics 1960–2000.
}}
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 ''Air Canada'', which TCA had long used as its French-language name. This bill failed but it was later resubmitted and passed, with the name change taking effect on 1 January 1965.<ref name="CBC timeline" /> [[Elizabeth II]], the [[Monarchy of Canada|Queen of Canada]], flew on the first aircraft to bear the name and livery of Air Canada when she departed for the United Kingdom at the end of her 1964 tour of Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Ontario.<ref>{{cite AV media| people=Sparling, Gordon; Bala, Nicholas| title=The Queen in Canada| medium=Digital video| publisher=National Film Board of Canada| location=Ottawa| date=1964| url=https://www.nfb.ca/film/queen_in_canada_1964| access-date=20 October 2014| archive-date=11 August 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811114708/http://www.nfb.ca/film/queen_in_canada_1964| url-status=live}}</ref>

During the 1970s, government regulations ensured Air Canada's dominance over domestic regional carriers and rival [[CP Air]].<ref name=AChist>{{cite web|url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Air-Canada-Company-History.html|title=Air Canada – Company History|year=2009|publisher=International Directory of Company Histories|access-date=19 August 2009|archive-date=8 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091008203243/http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Air-Canada-Company-History.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Short-haul carriers were each restricted to one of five regions, and could not compete directly with Air Canada and CP Air.<ref name=AChist/> CP Air was subject to capacity limits on intercontinental flights, and restricted from domestic operations. Air Canada's fares were also subject to regulation by the government.<ref name=AChist/>
[[File:Boeing 767-233, Air Canada AN0201046.jpg|thumb|An Air Canada [[Boeing 767-200]] in the 1964-1992 livery]]

In 1976, with reorganization at CNR, Air Canada became an independent [[Crown corporation]]. The ''Air Canada Act'' of 1978 ensured that the carrier would compete on a more equal footing with rival regional airlines and CP Air, and ended the government's direct regulatory control over Air Canada's routings, fares, and services.<ref name=AChist/> The act also transferred ownership from Canadian National Railway to a subsidiary of the national government.<ref name="CBCHist"/> Deregulation of the Canadian airline market, under the new ''National Transportation Act, 1987'' officially opened the airline market in Canada to equal competition.<ref>{{cite web | work=The Canadian Airline Industry | date=14 November 2002 | first1=John | last1=Christopher | first2=Joseph P. | last2=Dion | url=http://dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/Collection-R/LoPBdP/CIR/892-e.htm | access-date=4 April 2009 | title=Issue Definition | publisher=Government of Canada / Depository Services Program | archive-date=11 February 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211130147/http://dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/Collection-R/LoPBdP/CIR/892-e.htm | url-status=live }}</ref> The carrier's fleet expansion saw the acquisition of [[Boeing 727]], [[Boeing 747]], and [[Lockheed Tristar]] jetliners.<ref name=awst/> In 1978 [[Judy Cameron]] became the first female pilot hired to fly for any major Canadian carrier when she was hired to fly by Air Canada.<ref>{{cite web |date= |title=Captain Judy Cameron Scholarship |url=https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/about/corporate-responsibility/captain-judy-cameron-scholarship.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141002/http://tgblogsite.com/captaincraig/?tag=flight-training-organization&paged=4 |archive-date=12 June 2018 |access-date=2024-01-31 |publisher=Air Canada}}</ref>

With new fleet expenditures outpacing earnings, Air Canada officials indicated that the carrier would need additional sources of capital to fund its modernization.<ref name=AChist/> By 1985 the Canadian government was indicating a willingness to privatize both Canadian National Railways and Air Canada.<ref name=AChist/> In 1988, Air Canada was privatized, and 43% of shares were sold on the public market,<ref name="CBC timeline"/> with the [[initial public offering]] completed in October of that year.<ref name=AChist/> By this time, long-haul rival [[CP Air]] had become [[Canadian Airlines International]] following its acquisition by [[Pacific Western Airlines]].<ref name=awst/>

On 7 December 1987, Air Canada became the first airline in the world with a fleet-wide non-smoking policy,<ref name=ACInnov>{{cite web | title=Air Canada Innovations | publisher=Air Canada | url=http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/media/facts/innovations.html | access-date=24 May 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090430030117/http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/media/facts/innovations.html| archive-date= 30 April 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> and in [[1989 Canadian federal budget|1989]] became completely [[privatized]].<ref name="CBC timeline"/> The successful privatization program was led by the President and CEO, Pierre J. Jeanniot. The associated extensive communication activities were aided by the Non-Executive Chairman, Claude I. Taylor.

===Strategic changes (1990s)===
[[File:Star Alliance (Air Canada) Airbus A340-313 C-FYLD (23761975652).jpg|thumb|An Air Canada [[Airbus A340-300]] in [[Star Alliance]] livery, 1997. Air Canada was a founding member of the [[airline alliance]], established in 1997.]]

In the early 1990s, Air Canada encountered financial difficulties as the airline industry slumped in the aftermath of the [[Gulf War|Persian Gulf War]].<ref name=awst/> In response, the airline restructured management by hiring former [[Delta Air Lines]] executive Hollis L. Harris as its CEO. Harris restructured the airline's operations, reduced management positions, moved the corporate headquarters to [[Dorval Airport]],<ref name=awst/> and sold the ''[[enRoute (credit card)|enRoute]]'' card business to [[Diners Club]] in 1992.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CEED8163BF934A15750C0A964958260 | title=Air Canada Sells Credit Card Unit | newspaper=[[The New York Times]] | access-date=24 May 2009 | date=27 March 1992 | archive-date=14 February 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214131629/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CEED8163BF934A15750C0A964958260 | url-status=live }}</ref> By 1994, Air Canada returned to profitability.<ref name=awst/> The same year also saw the carrier winning route access to fly from Canada to the new [[Kansai International Airport|Kansai Airport]] in Osaka, Japan.<ref name=awst/>

In 1995, taking advantage of a new US-Canada [[open skies]] agreement, Air Canada added 30 new trans-border routes.<ref name=awst/> In May 1997, Air Canada became a founding member of the [[Star Alliance]], with the airline launching [[codesharing|codeshares]] with several of the alliance's members. The second half of the 1990s saw the airline earn consistent profits, totalling $1&nbsp;billion for the 1997 to 1999 period.<ref name=awst/>

On 2 September 1998, pilots for Air Canada launched the company's first pilots' strike,<ref name=Macleans21Sep1998>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=M1ARTM0011771 |title=Air Canada Strike Settled |magazine=[[Maclean's]] |access-date=24 May 2009 |date=21 September 1998 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213214148/http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=M1ARTM0011771 |archive-date=13 February 2009 }}</ref> demanding higher wages.<ref name=AChist/> At the end of 1999, the Canadian government relaxed some aviation regulations, aiming to consolidate the Canadian airline industry. That year, [[American Airlines]] in conjunction with Canadian financial company Onex Corp, launched takeover bids for ailing rival Canadian Airlines and Air Canada, spurring Air Canada to submit a competing offer for its largest rival.<ref name=awst/>

===Merger and reorganization (2000s)===
[[File:Canadian Airlines Boeing 737-275; C-GEPW@MIA, February 2000 CYG (6351375046).jpg|thumb|A [[Boeing 737-275]] with a hybrid Air Canada-[[Canadian Airlines International]] livery. The latter airline was acquired by Air Canada in 2001.]]
In January 2000, Air Canada acquired Canada's second-largest air carrier, [[Canadian Airlines International]], merging the latter's operations, becoming the world's twelfth-largest airline in the first decade of the 21st century.<ref name="CBC timeline"/> As Air Canada gained access to its former rival's financial statements, officials learned that the carrier was in worse financial shape than was previously believed.<ref name=AChist/> An expedited merger strategy was pursued, but in summer 2000 integration efforts led to flight delays, luggage problems and other frustrations.<ref name=AChist/> Service improved following Air Canada officials' pledge to do so by January 2001.<ref name=AChist/> The airline was confronted by the global aviation market downturn and increased competition, posting back-to-back losses in 2001 and 2002.<ref name=AChist/>

====Bankruptcy and restructuring====
As Air Canada had employed a scorched earth policy to prevent the Onex proposed acquisition as one of its lines of defense, it had burdened itself with onerous contracts with almost all of its suppliers. As a result, on 1 April 2003, Air Canada filed for protection under the [[Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act]]; it emerged from this protection on 30 September 2004, 18 months later. During the period of bankruptcy protection, the company was subject to two competing bids from [[Cerberus Capital Management]] and [[Victor Li]]. The Cerberus bid would have seen former Prime Minister [[Brian Mulroney]] installed as chairman, being recruited by Cerberus' international advisory board chair [[Dan Quayle]], the former vice-president of the United States. Cerberus was rejected because it had a reputation of changing existing employee pension agreements, a move strongly opposed by the [[CAW National Council 4000|CAW]]. At first, Air Canada selected Victor Li's ''Trinity Time Investments'', which initially asked for a board veto and the chairmanship in return for investing $650&nbsp;million in the airline. Li, who holds dual citizenship from Canada and Hong Kong, later demanded changes to the pension plan (which was not in his original takeover bid), but since the unions refused to budge, the bid was withdrawn.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2004-04-05-air-canada_x.htm |title=Air Canada unions dig in, rescue deal seen at risk |publisher=Usatoday.com |date=5 April 2004 |access-date=21 February 2011 |archive-date=27 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427121930/http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2004-04-05-air-canada_x.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Finally, [[Deutsche Bank]] unveiled an $850&nbsp;million financing package for Air Canada, if it would cut $200&nbsp;million in annual costs in addition to the $1.1&nbsp;billion that the unions agreed on in 2003. The offer was accepted after last-minute talks between CEO [[Robert Milton]] and CAW president [[Buzz Hargrove]] resulted in union concessions.<ref name="CBC timeline"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/air-canada-faces-deadline-on-deutsche-bank-deal-1.492087|title=Air Canada faces deadline on Deutsche Bank deal|date=14 May 2004|publisher=CBC News|access-date=28 November 2021|archive-date=28 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128065553/https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/air-canada-faces-deadline-on-deutsche-bank-deal-1.492087|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=CanEncyc>{{cite encyclopedia | url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/air-canada | title=Air Canada | encyclopedia=[[The Canadian Encyclopedia]] | access-date=28 November 2021 | first=Sasha | last=Yusufali | archive-date=28 November 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128065551/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/air-canada | url-status=live }}</ref>

ACE Aviation Holdings became the new parent company under which the reorganized Air Canada was held.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aceaviation.com/en/about/index.html |title=ACE Aviation |publisher=ACE Aviation |date=31 January 2011 |access-date=21 February 2011 |archive-date=7 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707080351/http://www.aceaviation.com/en/about/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In October 2004, Canadian singer [[Celine Dion]] became the face of Air Canada, hoping to relaunch the airline and draw in a more international market after 18 months of bankruptcy protection.<ref name="ACnewlook"/> She recorded her single, "[[You and I (Celine Dion song)|You and I]]", which subsequently appeared in several Air Canada commercials.<ref>{{cite web|author=Renée Alexander |url=http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/may2006/id20060510_847981.htm?chan=innovation_branding_top+stories |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060614200720/http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/may2006/id20060510_847981.htm?chan=innovation_branding_top+stories |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 June 2006 |title=WestJet Airlines – High Times |publisher=Businessweek |date=10 May 2006 |access-date=21 February 2011}}</ref>

====Fleet modernization====
[[File:C-GHPV Air Canada B788 FRA (33882313988).jpg|thumb|left|An Air Canada [[Boeing 787-8]] in the 'Frosted Leaf' livery at [[Frankfurt Airport]]. In 2005, the airline ordered a number of Boeing 787-8s.]]
On 31 October 2004, the last Air Canada [[Boeing 747]] flight landed in [[Toronto]] from [[Frankfurt]] as AC873, ending 33 years of 747 service with the airline. The [[Boeing 747-400]] fleet was replaced by the [[Airbus A340]] fleet.<ref>[http://www.aircanada.com/en/onair/december/aviation.html Aviation giant retires – onAir, December 2004, aircanada.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204072114/http://www.aircanada.com/en/onair/december/aviation.html |date=4 February 2016 }} Date accessed: 6 November 2008</ref> On 19 October 2004, Air Canada unveiled a new aircraft colour scheme and uniforms. A Boeing 767-300ER was painted in the new silver-blue colour, and the dark green/almost black tail was replaced with a new version of the [[maple]] leaf known as the 'Frosted Leaf'.<ref name="ACnewlook">[http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/air-canada-unveils-new-look-and-leading-edge-in-flight-enhancements-canadian-superstar-celine-dion-joins-employees-to-launch-new-era-for-nations-flag-carrier-74402422.html Air Canada unveils New Look and Leading Edge In-Flight Enhancements, Canadian Superstar Celine Dion joins Employees to Launch New era for Nation's Flag Carrier, prnewswire.com, 19 October 2004] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107124535/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/air-canada-unveils-new-look-and-leading-edge-in-flight-enhancements-canadian-superstar-celine-dion-joins-employees-to-launch-new-era-for-nations-flag-carrier-74402422.html |date=7 November 2014 }} Date accessed: 23 May 2014</ref>

On 9 November 2005, Air Canada agreed to renew its widebody fleet by purchasing 16 [[Boeing 777]]s (10 -300ERs, 6 -200LRs), and 14 [[Boeing 787 Dreamliner|Boeing 787-8]]s. It placed options on 18 Boeing 777s and 46 Boeing 787-8s and -9s.<ref>[http://www.sedar.com/GetFile.do?lang=EN&docClass=13&issuerNo=00020954&fileName=/csfsprod/data63/filings/00880502/00000001/x%3A%5CSedar%5C2006%5CACEAviation%5C18jan%5CAIRCANADA.pdf Download SEDAR Filings - 4 November 2005] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403122734/http://www.sedar.com/GetFile.do?lang=EN&docClass=13&issuerNo=00020954&fileName=/csfsprod/data63/filings/00880502/00000001/x%3A%5CSedar%5C2006%5CACEAviation%5C18jan%5CAIRCANADA.pdf |date=3 April 2015 }} Date accessed: 20 October 2008</ref> Deliveries of the 777s began in March 2007 and deliveries of the 787s began in May 2014.<ref name="globalaviationexpress.blogspot.com">{{Cite web |url=http://globalaviationexpress.blogspot.com/2014/05/boeing-delivers-air-canadas-first-787.html |title=Boeing Delivers Air Canada's First 787 Dreamliner |access-date=16 May 2014 |date=16 May 2016 |last=Gigacz |first=Oliver |work=Global Aviation Express |archive-date=17 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517121702/http://globalaviationexpress.blogspot.com/2014/05/boeing-delivers-air-canadas-first-787.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 24 April 2007, Air Canada exercised half of its options for the [[Boeing 787 Dreamliner]]. The firm order for the Dreamliners then stood at 37 plus 23 options, for a total of 60. The airline also cancelled orders for two Boeing 777Fs. In November 2007, Air Canada leased an additional [[Boeing 777|Boeing 777-300ER]].<ref name="Boeing25Apr2008">{{cite news |date=25 April 2007 |title=Boeing, Air Canada Announce 23 Additional 787 Dreamliners |url=https://boeing.mediaroom.com/2007-04-25-Boeing-Air-Canada-Announce-23-Additional-787-Dreamliners |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100119015327/http://boeing.com/news/releases/2007/q2/070425c_nr.html |archive-date=19 January 2010 |access-date=January 31, 2024 |work=Boeing}}</ref><ref name="Air Canada - Our Fleet">''Air Canada – Our Fleet'' 24 August 2009 [http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/fleet/ aircanada.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161015083113/http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/fleet/ |date=15 October 2016 }} Date accessed: 24 August 2009</ref>

====Project XM====
Started in July 2006 and since completed, ''Project XM: Extreme Makeover'', was a $300&nbsp;million aircraft interior replacement project to install new cabins on all aircraft. New aircraft such as the Boeing 777 were delivered with the new cabins factory installed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jang |first=Brent |date=December 26, 2006 |title=Air Canada embarks on Extreme Makeover |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/air-canada-embarks-on-extreme-makeover/article4113859/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014004004/http://www.globelink.ca/industry/travel/article.asp?id=22 |archive-date=14 October 2013 |access-date=January 31, 2024 |website=[[The Globe and Mail]]}}</ref> New cabin features included:<ref name="fleet">[http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/fleet/ Air Canada/Air Canada Jazz fleet] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161015083113/http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/fleet/ |date=15 October 2016 }} Date accessed: 18 February 2009</ref><ref name="EconomyNA">[http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/onboard/comfort_naecono.html Cabin Comfort – Economy Class – North America] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217094940/http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/onboard/comfort_naecono.html |date=17 December 2008 }} Date accessed: 4 December 2013</ref><ref name="EconomyInt">[http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/onboard/comfort_intecono.html Cabin Comfort – Economy Class – International] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913044007/http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/onboard/comfort_intecono.html |date=13 September 2008 }} Date accessed: 4 December 2013</ref><ref name="ExecNA">[http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/onboard/comfort_naexec.html Cabin Comfort – Business Class – North America] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217094946/http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/onboard/comfort_naexec.html |date=17 December 2008 }} Date accessed: 4 December 2013</ref><ref name="ExecFirst">[http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/onboard/comfort_intexec.html Cabin Comfort – International Business Class] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081104054348/http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/onboard/comfort_intexec.html |date=4 November 2008 }} Date accessed: 4 December 2013</ref>
* In Executive First, new horizontal fully flat Executive First Suites (on Boeing 767s, Boeing 777s, and Airbus A330s).
* New seats in all classes on all aircraft, with new entertainment options.
* Personal AVOD ({{convert|8.9|in|disp=or|abbr=on}} touchscreen LCD) in Economy class (domestic and international) and Executive Class (domestic).
* Larger AVOD ({{convert|12|in|disp=or|abbr=on}} touchscreen LCD) equipped with noise-cancelling [[Sennheiser]] headphones available in Executive First Suites.
* Interactive games at all seats in Executive and Economy; [[XM Radio Canada]] available at every seat.
* USB ports to recharge electronic devices and for game controllers at all seats; 120 VAC plugs in most seats; 
** In Economy (2 per triple) (1 per double) (3 per quad). 
** In First Class/Executive (All seats)

====Late 2000s financial difficulties====
High fuel prices and the [[Great Recession]] caused Air Canada significant financial difficulties in the late 2000s. In June 2008, the airline announced it would lay off over 2,000 employees and cut its capacity by 7 percent by the first quarter of 2009.<ref>{{cite news|date=17 June 2008|title=Air Canada cutting 2,000 jobs, trimming capacity|language=en-CA|work=[[CBC News]]|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/air-canada-cutting-2-000-jobs-trimming-capacity-1.699586|access-date=1 December 2020|archive-date=1 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301233013/https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/air-canada-cutting-2-000-jobs-trimming-capacity-1.699586|url-status=live}}</ref> President and CEO [[Montie Brewer]] expressed confidence that the airline would weather the economic downturn.<ref>{{cite news|last=Deveau|first=Scott|date=24 November 2008|title=Brewer handling Air Canada obstacles; CEO confident carrier has troubles in hand|work=[[Financial Post]]|publisher=[[Postmedia]]|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/330796242|access-date=1 December 2020|id={{ProQuest|330796242}}|archive-date=2 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402015027/https://www.proquest.com/docview/330796242|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Calin Rovinescu 2015.jpg|thumb|[[Călin Rovinescu]] in 2015. Rovinescu served as the CEO of Air Canada from 2009 to 2021.]]
Brewer resigned on 30 March 2009 and was replaced by [[Călin Rovinescu]] on 1 April.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jang|first1=Brent|title=Brewer resigns as Air Canada Chief|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/brewer-resigns-as-air-canada-chief/article1156460/|access-date=25 January 2015|newspaper=Globe and Mail|date=31 March 2009|archive-date=3 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403113933/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/brewer-resigns-as-air-canada-chief/article1156460/|url-status=live}}</ref> Rovinescu became the first Canadian President since [[Claude Taylor (transportation executive)|Claude Taylor]] in 1992. Rovinescu, reported to be "an enforcer", was Air Canada's chief restructuring officer during its 2003 bankruptcy; he resigned that year after unions rejected his demands.<ref>{{cite news |first= |date=31 March 2009 |title=Air Canada drafts an enforcer |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/streetwise/air-canada-drafts-an-enforcer/article782633/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403195305/http://business.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090331.WBstreetwise20090331084002/WBStory/WBstreetwise |archive-date=3 April 2009 |access-date=January 31, 2024 |work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |publisher=}}</ref>

Air Canada's contracts with four unions also expired around this time. The airline stated that its $2.85&nbsp;billion pension shortfall (which grew from $1.2&nbsp;billion in 2007) was a "liquidity risk" in its first-quarter report, and it required new financing and pension "relief" to conserve cash for 2010 operations. The company was obligated to pay $650&nbsp;million into the pension fund but it suffered a 2009 Q1 loss of $400&nbsp;million, so it requested a moratorium on its pension payments in 2009. The unions had insisted on financial guarantees before agreeing on a deal. Rejecting union calls for a direct bailout of the company, federal finance minister [[Jim Flaherty]] instead appointed retired judge James Farley to mediate pension issues between the company, the unions representing its employees, and retirees. Farley had presided over the company's 2003 bankruptcy.<ref>{{cite news |date=4 June 2009 |title=Flaherty appoints ex-judge to mediate Air Canada pension issues |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/flaherty-appoints-ex-judge-to-mediate-air-canada-pension-issues-1.823961 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090607095926/http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/06/04/air-canada-pension.html |archive-date=7 June 2009 |access-date=January 31, 2024 |work=[[CBC News]] |publisher=}}</ref>

In July 2009, Air Canada requested and received CA$1&nbsp;billion in financial aid from a consortium of entities, including the Canadian government, ACE, and associate company Aeroplan. The Centre for Aviation reported that only CA$600&nbsp;million was actually loaned to Air Canada; the rest of the money was from sale-leaseback accounting and "aggregating an array of biscuit-tin savings".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://centreforaviation.com/analysis/reports/air-canada-bailout-buys-time---but-canada-inc-sells-out-to-forces-of-protectionism-8958|title=Air Canada bailout buys time - but Canada Inc sells out to forces of protectionism|access-date=1 April 2020|archive-date=1 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601023142/https://centreforaviation.com/analysis/reports/air-canada-bailout-buys-time---but-canada-inc-sells-out-to-forces-of-protectionism-8958|url-status=live}}</ref>

===2010s===
In December 2010, ACE sold 44&nbsp;million Air Canada shares,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.aceaviation.com/en/about/documents/ACE_history.pdf | title=ACE History and Background | date=January 2011 | publisher=ACE Aviation | access-date=14 March 2019 | archive-date=28 August 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828172808/http://www.aceaviation.com/en/about/documents/ACE_history.pdf | url-status=live }}</ref> followed by the remaining 31&nbsp;million shares in November 2012 to Cormark Securities Inc.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://micro.newswire.ca/release.cgi?rkey=2011147913&view=65938-0&Start=10&htm=0|title=ACE Aviation|access-date=24 April 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904124905/http://micro.newswire.ca/release.cgi?rkey=2011147913&view=65938-0&Start=10&htm=0|archive-date=4 September 2015}}</ref>

==== New branding and fleet ====
[[File:Air Canada 2017 new livery - Airbus A321-211.jpg|thumb|New livery for Air Canada's fleet, unveiled at [[Montréal–Trudeau International Airport]] in February 2017 with an [[Airbus A321]]]]
On 9 February 2017, a new retro red and black aircraft livery was launched, to coincide with Air Canada's 80th anniversary and Canada's 150th anniversary of Confederation. The update includes design aspects from the logo used between 1964 and 1992, with an overall white colour scheme, with a black underside, tail fin with red maple leaf rondelle, black "Air Canada" lettering with a red maple leaf rondelle underneath, and a black "mask" surrounding the cockpit windows.<ref>{{cite web|title=Our Nation's Carrier|url=https://www.aircanada.com/content/dam/aircanada/portal/documents/PDF/media/livery/illustrative_guide_en.pdf#page=6|publisher=Air Canada|access-date=5 November 2017|date=2017|archive-date=11 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211155053/https://www.aircanada.com/content/dam/aircanada/portal/documents/PDF/media/livery/illustrative_guide_en.pdf#page=6|url-status=live}}</ref> 

[[File:C-GJXN of Air Canada.jpg|thumb|An Air Canada [[Airbus A220|Airbus A220-300]] at [[Halifax Stanfield International Airport]], 2020]]
In December 2013, Air Canada ordered 61 [[Boeing 737 MAX]] single-aisle narrow body aircraft to replace its existing fleet of Airbus A320 series aircraft with the first MAX&nbsp;8 variant delivered on 2 November 2017.<ref>{{cite news |title=Air Canada orders 61 Boeing 737 MAX jets |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/air-canada-orders-61-boeing-737-max-jets-1.2460560 |access-date=15 May 2020 |date=11 December 2013 |archive-date=2 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200902040315/https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/air-canada-orders-61-boeing-737-max-jets-1.2460560 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.skiesmag.com/news/air-canada-takes-first-boeing-737-max/|last=Cline|first=Andy|date=2 November 2017|access-date=5 November 2017|title=Air Canada takes its first Boeing 737 MAX|work=Skies Mag|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107015537/https://www.skiesmag.com/news/air-canada-takes-first-boeing-737-max/|url-status=live}}</ref> Some [[Airbus A319]]s will be transferred to Air Canada's Rouge subsidiary, with the remaining fleet retired. As part of the deal, Boeing purchased 25 Embraer E190s from Air Canada that were retired in 2016. The same year, Air Canada signed an agreement with [[Bombardier Aerospace]] to replace the E190s with [[Bombardier CSeries|Airbus A220/CSeries]] aircraft from 2019.<ref name="cseries order">{{cite press release|url=https://aircanada.mediaroom.com/2016-02-17-Air-Canada-to-Purchase-Bombardier-C-Series-as-Part-of-its-Fleet-Renewal-Program|title=Air Canada to Purchase Bombardier C Series as Part of its Fleet Renewal Program|date=17 February 2016|access-date=17 July 2019|work=Air Canada|archive-date=8 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708132710/https://aircanada.mediaroom.com/2016-02-17-Air-Canada-to-Purchase-Bombardier-C-Series-as-Part-of-its-Fleet-Renewal-Program|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2017, Air Canada reintroduced Premium Economy on its North American wide-body flights.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/book/travel-news-and-updates.html#/20170609|title=Air Canada Travel News and Updates|website=Air Canada |access-date=15 June 2017|archive-date=31 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731233409/https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/book/travel-news-and-updates.html#/20170609|url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2018, Air Canada rebranded its international business class cabin as Air Canada Signature Class.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/fly/onboard/cabin-features/signature-service.html?icid=ac%7Cachome%7Csignature%7Ccaen%7C180417%7Cbnr | title=Air Canada Signature Service | publisher=Air Canada | access-date=9 July 2019 | archive-date=25 July 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725010609/https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/fly/onboard/cabin-features/signature-service.html?icid=ac%7Cachome%7Csignature%7Ccaen%7C180417%7Cbnr | url-status=live }}</ref> Passengers could expect an enhanced menu, including the new Air Canada Signature Cocktail, as well as new amenity kits, a chauffeur service (using BMW vehicles) at its hubs during domestic to international connections, and access to the Air Canada Signature Suite at [[Toronto Pearson International Airport]]. On select North American routes, Air Canada Signature Service is offered on widebody aircraft.

In May 2018, Air Canada listed Taiwan as part of China to comply with a requirement of China's civil aviation administration.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/vancouver/2018/05/18/taiwanese-community-upset-as-air-canada-caves-to-demand-to-list-the-territory-as-part-of-china.html|title=Air Canada move to list Taiwan as part of China sees backlash, threat of boycot|work=thestar.com|access-date=12 June 2018|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142421/https://www.thestar.com/vancouver/2018/05/18/taiwanese-community-upset-as-air-canada-caves-to-demand-to-list-the-territory-as-part-of-china.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On 6 June 2018, Air Canada and [[Air China]] signed a joint venture, the first joint venture between a North American and Chinese airline.<ref name=GN1>{{cite news |title=Air Canada, Air China sign agreement to boost co-operation on Canada-China flights |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4256217/air-canada-air-china-agreement/ |date=6 June 2018 |agency=The Canadian Press |publisher=Global News |access-date=9 July 2019 |archive-date=7 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807010146/https://globalnews.ca/news/4256217/air-canada-air-china-agreement/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Proposed acquisition of Transat A.T.====
On 16 May 2019, Air Canada announced it was in exclusive talks to buy [[Transat A.T.]], the parent company that owns [[Air Transat]], for CA$520&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/air-canada-transat-1.5138180| title = Air Canada in exclusive talks to buy Air Transat| date = 16 May 2019| website = CBC News| publisher = Canadian Broadcasting Corporation| access-date = 20 Jan 2024| archive-date = 2024-07-13 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240713051423/https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/air-canada-transat-1.5138180| url-status = live}}</ref>

On 27 June 2019, Transat A.T. agreed to be purchased by Air Canada for CA$13 per share.  On 11 August 2019, Air Canada raised the purchase price of Transat A.T. to CA$18 per share. The overall value of the deal was now $720&nbsp;million. On 23 August 2019, 95% of Transat A.T. shareholders approved the acquisition by Air Canada on that basis.  The agreement was revised downwards in October 2020 to CA$5 per share, reflecting the challenges posed to the airline industry by the [[COVID-19|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/air-canada-transat-1.5760154| title = Air Canada agrees to still take over Air Transat, but for much lower price| last = Evans| first = Pete| date = 13 Oct 2020| website = CBC News| publisher = Canadian Broadcasting Corporation| access-date = 28 Jan 2024| archive-date = 2020-11-22 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201122100059/https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/air-canada-transat-1.5760154| url-status = live}}</ref>

The plan was "expected to face intense scrutiny from the Competition Bureau and other regulatory authorities, including in Europe", according to CBC News.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/air-transat-shareholders-approve-sale-air-canada-1.5257276|title=Transat shareholders approve Air Canada takeover, deal now in regulators' hands|date=23 August 2019|website=CBC|access-date=25 August 2019|archive-date=25 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190825185229/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/air-transat-shareholders-approve-sale-air-canada-1.5257276|url-status=live}}</ref>  While the Government of Canada approved the takeover on 11 February 2021,<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/federal-government-air-canada-transat-1.5911340| title = Federal government approves Air Canada purchase of Transat A.T. Inc.| last1 = Zimonjic| first1 = Peter| last2 = Burke| first2 = Ashley| date = 11 Feb 2021| website = CBC News| publisher = Canadian Broadcasting Corporation| access-date = 28 Jan 2024| archive-date = 2024-02-17 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240217022026/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/federal-government-air-canada-transat-1.5911340| url-status = live}}</ref> it was dropped in April 2021 following a failure to secure [[European Commission]] approval.<ref>{{cite news|date=2 April 2021|title=Air Canada Drops Transat Takeover After Battle With Europe|language=en|work=Bloomberg.com|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-02/air-canada-cancels-takeover-of-transat-after-battle-with-europe|access-date=3 April 2021|archive-date=2 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210402164905/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-02/air-canada-cancels-takeover-of-transat-after-battle-with-europe|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 2020s ===
==== COVID-19 pandemic ====
[[Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic|Travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic]] forced Air Canada to heavily restrict service. On 18 March 2020, the airline announced it would suspend most of its flights by 31 March.<ref>{{cite news|last=Atkins|first=Eric|date=18 March 2020|title=Air Canada to gradually suspend most U.S., international flights by March 31|work=[[The Globe and Mail]]|publisher=[[The Woodbridge Company]]|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-transat-starts-suspending-flights-laying-off-workers-as-virus-closes/|access-date=1 December 2020|archive-date=12 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112005151/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-transat-starts-suspending-flights-laying-off-workers-as-virus-closes/|url-status=live}}</ref> Service began to return to normal on 22 May, with flights to more cities being added over the summer.<ref>{{Cite web|date=22 May 2020|title=Air Canada Announces New Schedule Offering Customers Wide Choice of Destinations for Safe Travel this Summer and Expands Goodwill Policy|url=https://aircanada.mediaroom.com/2020-05-22-Air-Canada-Announces-New-Schedule-Offering-Customers-Wide-Choice-of-Destinations-for-Safe-Travel-this-Summer-and-Expands-Goodwill-Policy|access-date=1 December 2020|language=en-CA|archive-date=29 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129220506/https://aircanada.mediaroom.com/2020-05-22-Air-Canada-Announces-New-Schedule-Offering-Customers-Wide-Choice-of-Destinations-for-Safe-Travel-this-Summer-and-Expands-Goodwill-Policy|url-status=live}}</ref> In its first quarterly financial report, Air Canada announced it had lost CA$1.05&nbsp;billion, compared to a profit of CA$345&nbsp;million in Q1 2019.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/air-canada-financial-results-1.5554267| title = Air Canada reports $1.05B first-quarter loss due to impact of COVID-19 pandemic {{!}} CBC News| access-date = 15 July 2020| archive-date = 30 June 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200630225853/https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/air-canada-financial-results-1.5554267| url-status = live}}</ref> The airline similarly suffered in the third quarter, reporting a loss of CA$685&nbsp;million. It stated capacity in the fourth quarter of the 2020 fiscal year would be 75 percent lower than the previous year.<ref>{{Cite web|date=9 November 2020|title=Air Canada reports $685M loss in third quarter amid COVID-19 pandemic|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7450984/air-canada-profits-plunge-coronavirus/|access-date=1 December 2020|website=Global News|publisher=Corus Entertainment|language=en-US|archive-date=10 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110002901/https://globalnews.ca/news/7450984/air-canada-profits-plunge-coronavirus/|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2022, after the provincial governments across the country began lifting pandemic-era restrictions, Air Canada announced it was cancelling over 150 daily flights in the summer due to unprecedented and unexpected pressure in the aviation industry.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Air Canada cancels 154 flights a day this summer amid 'unprecedented and unforeseen strains' |url=https://financialpost.com/transportation/airlines/air-canada-cancels-154-flights-a-day-this-summer-amid-unprecedented-and-unforeseen-strains |website=Financial Post |date=4 July 2022 |last1=Bharti |first1=Bianca |access-date=4 July 2022 |archive-date=1 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701075057/https://financialpost.com/transportation/airlines/air-canada-cancels-154-flights-a-day-this-summer-amid-unprecedented-and-unforeseen-strains |url-status=live }}</ref>

In April 2021, the [[Government of Canada]] acquired 6.4% of Air Canada as a part of a $5.9&nbsp;billion [[COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19]] related assistance package, and has not ruled out further investment.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Will the $5.9 Billion Bailout Save Air Canada (TSX:AC) From COVID-19?|url=https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/5-9-billion-bailout-save-121742271.html|access-date=22 April 2021|website=ca.finance.yahoo.com|date=20 April 2021 |language=en-CA|archive-date=22 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422172002/https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/5-9-billion-bailout-save-121742271.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2024, the Government sold its stake in Air Canada, confirming they "...did not intend to be a long-term owner of the shares."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dec 17 announcement {{!}} Canada Enterprise Emergency Funding Corporation {{!}} Canada Enterprise Emergency Funding Corporation |url=https://ceefc-cfuec.ca/dec-17-announcement/ |access-date=2025-10-06 |language=en-CA}}</ref>

In September 2022, Air Canada welcomed the Government of Canada's decision to lift remaining COVID-19 restrictions, including requirements for wearing masks on aircraft, testing and quarantine, and the compulsory use of [[ArriveCAN]] beginning 1 October 2022 and noted that the measures were not justified by science.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mraircanada.mediaroom.com/2022-09-26-Air-Canada-Welcomes-Government-of-Canada-Decision-to-Lift-Mask,-Testing-and-ArriveCan-Requirements|title=Air Canada Welcomes Government of Canada Decision to Lift Mask, Testing and ArriveCan Requirements|website=Air Canada|access-date=2023-07-29 |archive-date=2024-08-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816163626/https://mraircanada.mediaroom.com/2022-09-26-Air-Canada-Welcomes-Government-of-Canada-Decision-to-Lift-Mask,-Testing-and-ArriveCan-Requirements|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Flight attendants strike ====
{{main|2025 Air Canada flight attendants strike}}
In August 2025, Air Canada experienced a work stoppage involving more than 10,000 flight attendants represented by the [[Canadian Union of Public Employees]]. The strike began on 16 August and led to the cancellation of approximately 130,000 passenger journeys per day.<ref>{{cite news |title=Air Canada suspends operations as flight attendants go on strike |url=https://apnews.com/article/air-canada-flight-attendants-strike-union-1d4fc4f5ce33d03a22de616a86563506 |access-date=16 August 2025 |publisher=AP News |date=16 August 2025}}</ref>  

A tentative agreement was reached on 19 August, and operations resumed later that day.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Yousif |first=Nadine |date=19 August 2025 |title=Air Canada to resume flights after pay deal struck with union |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cewyzg8rpxpo |access-date=19 August 2025 |publisher=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> The wage component of the agreement was subsequently rejected by 99.1% of members, although other provisions remained in effect.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/11399596/air-canada-flight-attendants-vote-reject-wage-offer/|title=Air Canada flight attendants vote to reject airline's wage offer|first=Ken|last=MacGillivray|publisher=Global News|date=6 September 2025|access-date=6 September 2025}}</ref>  

The strike resulted in 3,200 flight cancellations and an estimated revenue loss of C$430 million.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hardee |first1=Howard |title=Air Canada reveals C$430 million revenue loss due to cabin crew strike |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/strategy/air-canada-reveals-c430-million-revenue-loss-due-to-cabin-crew-strike/164657.article |work=Flight Global |date=25 September 2025}}</ref>

==Corporate affairs==
===Business trends===
Air Canada had been loss-making for several years, but was profitable from 2012;<ref name="AR2012">{{cite web |title=Annual Report 2012 |url=http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/investor/documents/2012_ar.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101231117/http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/investor/documents/2012_ar.pdf |archive-date=1 November 2013 |access-date=24 May 2013 |publisher=Air Canada}}</ref> however, due to the impact of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the company was again loss-making in 2020. The key trends for the Air Canada group, including Air Canada Express and Air Canada ''rouge'', are (years ending 31 December):<ref>{{Cite web |title=Air Canada - Annual Reports |url=https://aircanada.investorroom.com/index.php?s= |access-date=2024-08-13 |website=Air Canada - Investor Relations |language=en-CA |archive-date=2024-08-13  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240813111737/https://aircanada.investorroom.com/index.php?s= |url-status=live }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!
!Operating<br />revenue<br />([[Canadian dollar|C$m]])
!Net profit<br />(C$m)
!Number of<br />employees<br />([[Full-time equivalent|FTE]]){{Efn|on average}}
!Number of<br />passengers<br />(m)
!Passenger<br />load factor<br />(%)
!Number of<br />aircraft{{Efn|at year end}}
!''Notes/<br />sources''
|-
| align="left" |2009
| 9,739
| {{color|red|−24}}
| 22,900
| 30
| 80.7
| 332
| <ref name="AR2010">{{cite web |title=Annual Report 2010 |url=http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/investor/documents/2010_ar.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507163341/http://aircanada.com/en/about/investor/documents/2010_ar.pdf |archive-date=7 May 2012 |access-date=25 May 2013 |publisher=Air Canada}}</ref>
|-
| align="left" |2010
| 10,786
| {{color|red|−24}}
| 23,200
| 32
| 81.7
| 328
| <ref name="AR2010" /><ref name="AR2011">{{cite web |title=Annual Report 2011 |url=http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/investor/documents/2011_ar.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617074134/http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/investor/documents/2011_ar.pdf |archive-date=17 June 2012 |access-date=24 May 2013 |publisher=Air Canada}}</ref>
|-
| align="left" |2011
| 11,612
| {{color|red|−249}}
| 23,700
| 33.9
| 81.6
| 331
| <ref name="AR2011" />
|-
| align="left" |2012
| 12,114
| 131
| 24,000
| 34.9
| 82.7
| 351
| <ref name="AR2012" />
|-
| align="left" |2013
| 12,382
| 10
| 24,500
| 35.8
| 82.8
| 352
| <ref name="Q42013">{{cite web |title=News Release Q4 2013 |url=http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/investor/documents/2013_q4_release.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703144733/http://aircanada.com/en/about/investor/documents/2013_q4_release.pdf |archive-date=3 July 2014 |access-date=9 March 2014 |publisher=Air Canada}}</ref>
|-
| align="left" |2014
| 13,272
| 105
| 24,400
| 38.5
| 83.4
| 364
| <ref name="AR2014">{{cite web |title=Annual Report 2014 |url=http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/investor/documents/2014_ar.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413044620/http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/investor/documents/2014_ar.pdf |archive-date=13 April 2015 |access-date=12 April 2015 |publisher=Air Canada}}</ref>
|-
| align="left" |2015
| 13,868
| 308
| 24,900
| 41.1
| 83.5
| 370
| <ref>{{Cite web |title=Annual Report 2015 |url=https://www.aircanada.com/en/about/investor/documents/2015_ar.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914060811/https://www.aircanada.com/en/about/investor/documents/2015_ar.pdf |archive-date=14 September 2016 |access-date=9 July 2016}}</ref>
|-
|2016
|14,677
|876
|26,100
|44.8
|82.5
|381
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Air Canada Annual Report 2016 |url=https://www.aircanada.com/content/dam/aircanada/portal/documents/PDF/en/annual-report/2016_ar.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420045809/https://www.aircanada.com/content/dam/aircanada/portal/documents/PDF/en/annual-report/2016_ar.pdf |archive-date=20 April 2017 |access-date=19 April 2017}}</ref>
|-
|2017
|16,252
|2,038
|27,800
|48.1
|82.3
|395
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Air Canada Annual Report 2017 |url=https://www.aircanada.com/content/dam/aircanada/portal/documents/PDF/en/annual-report/2017_ar.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528052311/https://www.aircanada.com/content/dam/aircanada/portal/documents/PDF/en/annual-report/2017_ar.pdf |archive-date=28 May 2018 |access-date=27 May 2018}}</ref>
|-
|2018
|18,065
|167
|29,900
|50.9
|83.3
|400
|<ref name="AnnualRep2018">{{cite web |title=2018 Annual Report |url=https://www.aircanada.com/content/dam/aircanada/portal/documents/PDF/en/annual-report/2018_ar.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418121008/https://www.aircanada.com/content/dam/aircanada/portal/documents/PDF/en/annual-report/2018_ar.pdf |archive-date=18 April 2019 |access-date=18 April 2019 |publisher=Air Canada}}</ref>
|-
|2019
|19,131
|1,476
|32,900
|51.5
|83.4
|403
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=2019 Annual Report |url=https://www.aircanada.com/content/dam/aircanada/portal/documents/PDF/en/annual-report/2019_ar.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024180043/https://www.aircanada.com/content/dam/aircanada/portal/documents/PDF/en/annual-report/2019_ar.pdf |archive-date=24 October 2020 |access-date=12 May 2020 |publisher=Air Canada |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|2020
|5,833
|{{color|red|−4,647}}
|21,100
|13.8
|61.6
|344
|{{efn|2020: Activities and income in fiscal 2020 were severely reduced by the impact of the [[COVID-19 pandemic|coronavirus pandemic]]}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020 Annual Report |url=https://www.aircanada.com/content/dam/aircanada/portal/documents/PDF/en/annual-report/2020_ar.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712225714/https://www.aircanada.com/content/dam/aircanada/portal/documents/PDF/en/annual-report/2020_ar.pdf |archive-date=12 July 2021 |access-date=12 July 2021 |publisher=Air Canada}}</ref>
|-
|2021
|6,400
|{{color|red|−3,602}}
|19,800
|13.2
|63.0
|337
|{{efn|2021: Activities and income in fiscal 2021 were severely reduced by the impact of the [[COVID-19 pandemic|coronavirus pandemic]]}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=2021 Annual Report |url=https://www.aircanada.com/content/dam/aircanada/portal/documents/PDF/en/annual-report/2021_ar.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514004344/https://www.aircanada.com/content/dam/aircanada/portal/documents/PDF/en/annual-report/2021_ar.pdf |archive-date=14 May 2023 |access-date=13 May 2023 |publisher=Air Canada}}</ref>
|-
|2022
|16,556
|{{color|red|−1,700}}
|30,500
|36.1
|80.5
|345
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=2022 Annual Report |url=https://filecache.investorroom.com/mr5ircnw_aircanada/426/AC_Annual%20Report%202023_EN_FINAL.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514005704/https://filecache.investorroom.com/mr5ircnw_aircanada/426/AC_Annual%20Report%202023_EN_FINAL.pdf |archive-date=14 May 2023 |access-date=13 May 2023 |publisher=Air Canada |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|2023
|21,833
|2,276
|35,700
|44.8
|86.7
|361
|<ref name="auto" />
|-
| colspan="8" style="text-align:left;" |{{notelist}}
|}

===Ownership===
Air Canada became fully privatized in 1989,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://business.financialpost.com/transportation/airlines/airline-competition-canada|title=Airline competition finally taking off in Canada, but barriers keep passengers' options limited {{!}} Financial Post|last1=Transportation|last2=Airlines|newspaper=Financial Post|date=25 July 2018|language=en-CA|access-date=6 January 2020|archive-date=2 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202064303/https://business.financialpost.com/transportation/airlines/airline-competition-canada|url-status=live}}</ref> and its variable voting shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:AC), and, since 29 July 2016, on OTCQX International Premier in the US under the single ticker symbol "ACDVF".<ref>{{cite web | work = Air Canada | date = May 2023 | title = Corporate Profile | access-date = 12 October 2023 | url = https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/about/corporate-profile.html | archive-date = 2022-10-09  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221009133930/https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/about/corporate-profile.html | url-status = live }}</ref>

Currently, the Air Canada Public Participation Act (ACPPA) limits ownership of Air Canada's voting interests by non-residents of Canada to a maximum of 25%. The Canada Transportation Act (CTA) also requires that Canadians own and control at least 75% of the voting interests of licensed Canadian carriers. Accordingly, Air Canada's articles contain restrictions to ensure that it remains "Canadian" as defined under the CTA.<ref name="aircanada report pdf1" />

====Executives====
Prior to 1976, Air Canada was a department of the [[Canadian National Railway]] (CNR), helmed by a department head who reported to the President of CNR. Since 1976, the following have been CEO and President:<ref name="AChist" />
{{col div}}
* 1976–1984: [[Claude Taylor (transportation executive)|Claude Taylor]] (accountant; former Air Canada reservation agent and executive)
* 1984–1990: [[Pierre Jean Jeanniot|Pierre Jeanniot]] (former Overhaul Research Technician and Air Canada executive)
* 1990–1992: [[Claude Taylor (transportation executive)|Claude Taylor]]
* 1992–1996: [[Hollis L. Harris]] ([[World Airways]] CEO 2001–04, [[Continental Airlines|Continental]] CEO and President, 1990–92, President of [[Delta Air Lines|Delta]])
* 1996–1999: R. Lamar Durrett (former executive with Delta, Continental and System One)
* 1999–2004: [[Robert Milton]] (founding partner of Air Eagle Holdings Incorporated)
* 2004–2009: [[Montie Brewer]] (former [[United Airlines]] executive)
* 2009{{snd}}February 2021: [[Călin Rovinescu]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/media/bio/Rovinescu.html |title=Executive Biographies |publisher=aircanada.com |date=24 November 2008 |access-date=21 February 2011 |archive-date=12 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101212065134/http://aircanada.com/en/about/media/bio/Rovinescu.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* February 2021{{snd}}present: [[Michael Rousseau (transportation executive)|Michael Rousseau]]
{{col div end}}

===Headquarters and Operations Centre===
[[File:Air Canada HQ.jpg|thumb|The Air Canada Centre at [[Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]] serves as the airline's headquarters.]]

By federal law (''Air Canada Public Participation Act''), Air Canada is obligated to keep its head office in Montreal.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/About/Parliament/LegislativeSummaries/bills_ls.asp?ls=c29&source=library_prb&Parl=39&Ses=1&Language=E |title=Bill C-29: An Act to amend the Air Canada Public Participation Act (LS-536E) |publisher=Parl.gc.ca |access-date=23 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130402222932/http://www.parl.gc.ca/About/Parliament/LegislativeSummaries/bills_ls.asp?ls=c29&source=library_prb&Parl=39&Ses=1&Language=E |archive-date=2 April 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Air Canada Public Participation Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. 35 (4th Supp.))|url=http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/A-10.1/index.html|website=Justice Laws Website|publisher=Government of Canada|access-date=13 May 2018|archive-date=19 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180519044355/http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/A-10.1/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Its corporate headquarters is Air Canada Centre<ref name="InvEng">"[http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/investor/contacts.html Investors Contacts] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204072053/http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/investor/contacts.html |date=4 February 2016 }}." Air Canada. Retrieved on 4 December 2010. "Air Canada Centre, 7373 Côte-Vertu Blvd. West Saint-Laurent, Quebec H4S 1Z3."</ref> (French: ''Centre Air Canada''<ref name="InvFre">"[http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/investor/contacts.html Coordonnées – Investisseurs] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204072053/http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/investor/contacts.html |date=4 February 2016 }}." Air Canada. Retrieved on 4 December 2010. "Centre Air Canada, 7373 boul. Côte-Vertu Ouest Saint-Laurent (Québec) H4S 1Z3."</ref>), also known as La Rondelle ("The Puck" in French),<ref name="Israelson">{{cite news | last=Israelson | first=David | url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/6588772.html?dids=6588772:6588772&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+11%2C+1994&author=Israelson%2C+David&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=Companies+eye+exits+in+case+of+separation&pqatl=google | title=Companies eye exits in case of separation | newspaper=[[Toronto Star]] | date=11 September 1994 | access-date=23 September 2009 | archive-date=22 October 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022205733/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/6588772.html?dids=6588772:6588772&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+11,+1994&author=Israelson,+David&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=Companies+eye+exits+in+case+of+separation&pqatl=google | url-status=dead }} - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/176467588/ Clipping] at [[Newspapers.com]].</ref> a 7-storey building located on the grounds of [[Montréal–Trudeau International Airport]] in [[Saint-Laurent, Quebec|Saint-Laurent]].<ref>"[http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/career/about_faq.html FAQs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508212752/http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/career/about_faq.html |date=8 May 2015 }}." Air Canada. Retrieved on 4 December 2010. "Our headquarters are located at 7373 Boulevard Côte-Vertu Ouest, Dorval, Quebec."</ref><!--The address here says "Dorval," but check the map and you will know the HQ's in Saint-Laurent-->

In 1975, Air Canada was headquartered at 1 [[Place Ville-Marie]] in Montreal.<ref>{{cite book | title=World Airline Directory | publisher=Flight International | access-date=24 May 2009 | date=20 March 1975 | url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1975/1975%20-%200529.html | page=465 | archive-date=3 January 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103225806/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1975/1975%20-%200529.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
In 1990, the airline moved its headquarters to the airport to cut costs.<ref>"[https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/472274081.html?dids=472274081:472274081&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+10%2C+1990&author=&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=Air+Canada+layoffs+blamed+on+free+trade&pqatl=google Air Canada layoffs blamed on free trade] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130401231901/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/472274081.html?dids=472274081:472274081&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+10%2C+1990&author=&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=Air+Canada+layoffs+blamed+on+free+trade&pqatl=google |date=1 April 2013 }}." ''[[Toronto Star]]''. 10 October 1990. A1. Retrieved on 23 September 2009.</ref>

Air Canada's Operations Centre is located in [[Brampton]], Ontario, and oversees all flight operations including dispatching and crew scheduling. It has an off-site disaster recovery site and is typically unused.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Air Canada Foundation - Humanitarian Support |url=https://www.aircanada.com/en/about/community/foundation/our-programs/humanitarian-support.html |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=Air Canada |language=en-ca}}</ref>

===Air Canada Pension Plan===
Trans-Canada Capital manages Air Canada's pension plan and its $30 billion in assets.<ref>{{cite web | title=About Us - Trans-Canada Capital | date=12 December 2016 | url=https://transcanadacapital.com/about-us/ }}</ref> TCC has allocated funds in: Canadian fixed income; absolute return hedge funds; and, real estate, infrastructure, private equity, private debt.TCC's team grew the fund from $23 billion in 2020 to $30 billion in 2024. TCC began a partnership with [[Pretium Partners]] in 2013, investing in their single-family rental real estate strategy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/trans-canada-capital-expands-relationship-with-pretium-via-usd-110-million-opportunistic-corporate-and-structured-credit-mandate-899428669.html|title=Trans-Canada Capital Expands Relationship with Pretium via USD$110 Million Opportunistic Corporate and Structured Credit Mandate|first=Pretium Partners|last=LLC|website=www.newswire.ca}}</ref> The fund adheres to [[Environmental, social, and governance]] (ESG) rules and refrains from investing in companies associated with coal, tobacco and weapons production.<ref>{{cite web |title=ESG DISCLOSURE STATEMENT : TCC Universe+ Fixed Income Trust Fund |url=https://transcanadacapital.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/TCC-ESG-Disclosure-Statement-U-FI_2024.12.13_EN-1.pdf |website=transcanadacapital.com |access-date=21 October 2025}}</ref>

===Subsidiaries===
====Air Canada Cargo====
Air Canada Cargo is the company's freight carrying division based at Toronto-Pearson, offering more than 150 shipping destinations through the Air Canada airline network, ground logistics and airline partners.<ref name="accargo">{{cite news |url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-6389119_ITM |title=Air Canada Cargo profile |publisher=Accessmylibrary.com |date=1 October 1996 |access-date=21 February 2011 |archive-date=21 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021140851/http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-6389119_ITM |url-status=live }}</ref> Its route network has focused on European destinations through Eastern Canada departure points, along with direct services from Vancouver and Calgary to Frankfurt, London, Paris, and Zurich.<ref name=accargo/>

In Toronto, a new cargo terminal was completed in early 2002 which featured modernized inventory and conveyor systems.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aircanada.jp/news/jpen-20020128.pdf |access-date=26 May 2009 |title=Air Canada opens modern new cargo terminal at Toronto hub |date=28 January 2002 |publisher=Air Canada |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100917114445/http://aircanada.jp/news/jpen-20020128.pdf |archive-date=17 September 2010 }}</ref> Cargo terminals are also found in Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal.

On 17 April 2023, a [[grand theft]] occurred at the Air Canada cargo terminal at [[Toronto Pearson International Airport]]. A container containing gold bars and currency valued at over [[Canadian dollar|C$]]20 million was stolen. Two Air Canada employees allegedly participated in [[Toronto Pearson International Airport heist|this theft]].<ref name="CBC-2024-04-17">{{Cite news |last=Powers |first=Lucas |date=2024-04-17 |title=Multiple arrests, 19 charges laid in $22.5M Pearson gold heist |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/pearson-airport-heist-arrests-1.7176041 |access-date=2024-04-17 |work=CBC News |archive-date=2024-04-17  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240417113819/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/pearson-airport-heist-arrests-1.7176041 |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Air Canada Express====
{{Main|Air Canada Express}}
[[File:Air Canada Express - Embraer E175 - C-FXJC (Quintin Soloviev).jpg|thumb|Operating regional feeder services, [[Air Canada Express]] is a subsidiary of Air Canada.]]

Air Canada Express is the brand name of Air Canada's regional feeder service operated by independent carriers [[Jazz Aviation]] and [[PAL Airlines]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aircanada.com/en/offers/aeroplan/aeroplan/aeroplan.html |title=Aeroplane Miles earned partners |publisher=Aircanada.com |date=16 June 2010 |access-date=21 February 2011 |archive-date=6 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606111734/http://www.aircanada.com/en/offers/aeroplan/aeroplan/aeroplan.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Air Canada Jetz====
{{Main|Air Canada Jetz}}
Launched in 2002, [[Air Canada Jetz]] is a charter service targeting sports teams, professional entertainers, and corporations. The Air Canada Jetz fleet consists of Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft in an all business class configuration.<ref>[http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/before/jetz/index.html Air Canada Jetz – About Us, aircanada.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081016074513/http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/before/jetz/index.html |date=16 October 2008 }} Date accessed: 17 May 2014</ref> In February 2014, Air Canada decided to leave the sports charter business.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/sports/Senators+look+ride+road+games+Canada+exits+charter+business/9517466/story.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140617025106/http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/Senators+look+ride+road+games+Canada+exits+charter+business/9517466/story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 June 2014|title=ottawacitizen.com – Senators look for a new ride to road games as Air Canada exits charter business}}</ref> However, on 17 March 2015, Air Canada announced an agreement with several NHL teams to provide charter services under the Air Canada Jetz brand for six years starting from the 2015–2016 NHL season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Air Canada to Carry Canada's Top Professional Hockey Teams|url=http://aircanada.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=862|website=Air Canada Media Centre|access-date=17 March 2015|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402102354/http://aircanada.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=862|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Air Canada Rouge====
{{main|Air Canada Rouge}}
[[File:AirCanadaRougeA320ceoC-GFCI YYJJuly2019.jpg|thumb|[[Air Canada Rouge]] is a subsidiary of Air Canada.]]

Launched in December 2012, Air Canada Rouge is a subsidiary of Air Canada. Air Canada Rouge serves predominantly leisure destinations in Europe, the Caribbean, South America, Central America, Mexico and the United States<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dkg-online.de/2016/10/11/neue-direktverbindung-berlin-toronto-ab-sommer-2017/|title=Neue Direktverbindung Berlin-Toronto ab Sommer 2017|website=Deutsch-Kanadische Gesellschaft |access-date=26 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612153256/http://www.dkg-online.de/2016/10/11/neue-direktverbindung-berlin-toronto-ab-sommer-2017/|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> using [[Airbus A319]], [[Airbus A320]], and [[Airbus A321]].<ref name="ccarcsRouge">{{cite web |url=http://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/saf-sec-sur/2/ccarcs-riacc/RchSimpRes.aspx?cn=%7c%7c&mn=%7c%7c&sn=%7c%7c&on=%7cAIR+CANADA+ROUGE%7c&m=%7c%7c&print=y |title=Canadian Civil Aircraft Register |date=28 August 2013 |publisher=Transport Canada |access-date=4 October 2017 |archive-date=29 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929045517/http://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/saf-sec-sur/2/ccarcs-riacc/RchSimpRes.aspx?cn=%7C%7C&mn=%7C%7C&sn=%7C%7C&on=%7CAIR+CANADA+ROUGE%7C&m=%7C%7C&print=y |url-status=live }}</ref> Air Canada Rouge's former routes to [[Asia]], [[Europe]], and [[South America]] were cancelled after the retirement of its [[Boeing 767-300ER]] aircraft.

====Air Canada Vacations====
Air Canada Vacations is Air Canada's tour operator. All packages include accommodation, Aeroplan Miles and roundtrip airfare aboard Air Canada and/or its Star Alliance partners.

Air Canada Vacations offers Executive Class service on select flights, nonstop flights from major Canadian cities and daily flights to many destinations.<ref name="subsidiaries">[http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/investor/documents/2007_FSN_q4.pdf Air Canada – Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes 2007 -subsidiaries p.7] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204150041/http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/investor/documents/2007_FSN_q4.pdf |date=4 December 2008 }} Date accessed: 5 November 2008</ref><ref>[http://www.aircanadavacations.com/en/about_air_canada_vacations Air Canada Vacations – About Us, aircanadavacations.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208172822/http://www.aircanadavacations.com/en/about_air_canada_vacations |date=8 December 2008 }} Date accessed: 31 October 2008</ref>

====Aeroplan====
{{Main|Aeroplan}}
Aeroplan is Air Canada's loyalty marketing program operated by Groupe Aeroplan Inc., which was spun off from Air Canada in 2005.<ref name=ACE>{{cite web|url=http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/business_agriculture/story.html?id=a5c080bb-7699-4fd1-a7ab-7ff7b9c2925b |title=ACE to spin off unit |publisher=Canada.com |date=10 February 2007 |access-date=21 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604105756/http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/business_agriculture/story.html?id=a5c080bb-7699-4fd1-a7ab-7ff7b9c2925b |archive-date=4 June 2011 }}</ref> Air Canada re-purchased Aeroplan from [[Aimia (company)|Aimia Inc]] in January 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aircanada.mediaroom.com/2019-01-10-Air-Canada-Completes-Acquisition-of-Aeroplan-Loyalty-Business|title=Air Canada Completes Acquisition of Aeroplan Loyalty Business|date=14 January 2019|access-date=18 January 2018|archive-date=15 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115181953/https://aircanada.mediaroom.com/2019-01-10-Air-Canada-Completes-Acquisition-of-Aeroplan-Loyalty-Business|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Former subsidiaries===
====Air Canada Jazz====
{{Main|Air Canada Jazz}}
[[File:C-GTAG landing in Vancouver.jpg|thumb|[[Air Canada Jazz]] was a former subsidiary that operated as a [[regional airline]]. The subsidiary was spun off in 2006, although it continued to use the Air Canada brand until 2011.]]

In 2001, Air Canada consolidated its wholly owned regional carriers [[Air BC]], [[Air Nova]], [[Air Ontario]], and [[Canadian Regional Airlines]] into Air Canada Regional Incorporated. Several of these air carriers had previously operated as an "Air Canada Connector". In 2002, the consolidation was completed with the creation of a new brand, Air Canada Jazz. Air Canada Jazz was spun off in November 2006. ACE Aviation Holdings is no longer a shareholder of Jazz Aviation LP, making it an independent company. ''Air Canada Jazz'' was the brand name of Air Canada's main regional product from 2002 to 2011. As of June 2011, the ''Air Canada Jazz'' brand is no longer being marketed as all regional operators adopted the ''Air Canada Express'' name. Jazz Aviation is the largest of these affiliates, operating 125 aircraft on behalf of Air Canada.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flyjazz.ca/english/aboutUs/history.asp |title=History |website=flyjazz.ca |access-date=31 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090307023111/http://www.flyjazz.ca/english/aboutUs/history.asp |archive-date=7 March 2009}}</ref>

====Air Canada Tango====
{{Main|Air Canada Tango}}
On 1 November 2001, Air Canada launched ''Air Canada Tango'', designed to offer [[no-frills]] service and lower fares using a dedicated fleet of 13 Airbus A320s in an all economy configuration of 159 seats. In Canada, it operated from [[Toronto]] to [[Vancouver]], [[Calgary]], [[Edmonton]], [[Winnipeg]], [[Regina, Saskatchewan|Regina]], [[Saskatoon]], [[Thunder Bay]], [[Ottawa]], Montreal, [[Halifax Regional Municipality|Halifax]], [[Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador|Gander]] and [[St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador|St. John's]]. In addition, it operated non-stop service between Toronto and [[Fort Lauderdale]], [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]] and [[Tampa]]; as well as non-stop service between Montreal and Fort Lauderdale and Orlando.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nieuwsbank.nl/en/2001/10/10/E020.htm | title=Air Canada Gets Costs Out With Tango; Reassigns Existing Capacity to Offer Unique, No-Frills, Value-Focussed Alternative to Full Service Mainline Network | date=10 October 2001 | publisher=Nieuwsbank | access-date=12 January 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522133407/http://www.nieuwsbank.nl/en/2001/10/10/E020.htm | archive-date=22 May 2011 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Tango was intended to compete with [[Canada 3000]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=DUNN |first=BRIAN |date=16 October 2001 |title=Air Canada's Tango steps into service |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/air-canadas-tango-steps-into-service-/39934.article |access-date=2 February 2024 |work=[[Flight Global]] |archive-date=2024-08-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816163627/https://www.flightglobal.com/air-canadas-tango-steps-into-service-/39934.article |url-status=live }}</ref> The Tango service was dissolved in 2004. Air Canada once called its lowest fare class "Tango".<ref name=fare>{{cite web|url=http://www.aircanada.com/en/us/news/oneway/index.html |title=Air Canada fare structure |publisher=Aircanada.com |date=24 November 2008 |access-date=21 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527061408/http://www.aircanada.com/en/us/news/oneway/index.html |archive-date=27 May 2010 }}</ref><!-- paying homage to the low-cost experiment. --> As of 2018, Air Canada has renamed the Tango fare class to Standard fare.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/book/fare-options-and-fees/economy-fares.html |title=Economy Fares |publisher=Aircanada.com |date=30 June 2018 |access-date=30 June 2018 |archive-date=30 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630080851/https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/book/fare-options-and-fees/economy-fares.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Zip====
{{Main|Zip (airline)}}
In 2002, Air Canada launched a [[low-cost carrier|discount airline]] to compete directly with [[WestJet]] on routes in Western Canada. Zip operated ex-Canadian Airlines International 737-200s as a separate airline with its own staff and brightly painted aircraft. It was disbanded in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/air-canada-s-zip-shut-down-1.467414|title=Air Canada's Zip shut down|publisher=CBC News|date=8 September 2004|access-date=28 November 2021|archive-date=28 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128065552/https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/air-canada-s-zip-shut-down-1.467414|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Destinations and hubs==

===Hubs===
Air Canada currently operates three hubs.<ref name="Air Canada Corporate Profile">{{cite web |title=Air Canada Corporate Profile |url=https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/about/corporate-profile.html |website=Air Canada |access-date=27 May 2018 |archive-date=31 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331211232/https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/about/corporate-profile.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

* [[Toronto Pearson International Airport|Toronto–Pearson]]: Air Canada's primary global hub.
* [[Montréal–Trudeau International Airport|Montréal–Trudeau]]: secondary hub for the East Coast and principal gateway to France and other international destinations.
* [[Vancouver International Airport|Vancouver]]: secondary hub for the West Coast and premier Asia-Pacific gateway.

===Destinations===

{{Main|List of Air Canada destinations}}
[[File:201901 Air Canada Check-in Counter at HKG.jpg|thumb|Air Canada's check-in counter at [[Hong Kong International Airport]]]]
{{As of|2024|01}}, Air Canada flies to 64 domestic destinations and 158 international destinations across Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, and Oceania. Along with its regional partners, the carrier serves over 222 destinations in 47 countries, on six continents worldwide.

Air Canada currently flies two [[Freedoms of the air#Fifth freedom|fifth freedom]] flights, São Paulo-Buenos Aires and London Heathrow-Delhi. Air Canada has flown a number of fifth freedom routes (passenger and cargo rights between two non-Canadian destinations) in the past,<ref name=awst/> including: Honolulu-Sydney, London Heathrow-Düsseldorf, Paris-Geneva, Paris-Munich, Paris-Berlin, Frankfurt-Zürich, Zürich-Zagreb, Zürich-Vienna, Zürich-Delhi, Manchester-Brussels, Lisbon-Madrid, Brussels-Prague, London Heathrow-Mumbai, London Heathrow-Nice, London Heathrow-Mumbai-Singapore, Montego Bay-Kingston (KIN), and Santiago-Buenos Aires. However, these were replaced with nonstop routes: Vancouver-Sydney, Toronto-Munich, Toronto-Brussels, Toronto-Zürich, Vancouver-Zürich, Toronto-Vienna, Toronto-Delhi, Vancouver-Delhi, Toronto-Madrid, and Toronto-Mumbai.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1984/1984%20-%200397.html |title=Air Canada expands in Europe |publisher=Flightglobal.com |date=10 March 1984 |access-date=21 February 2011 |archive-date=29 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090629045659/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1984/1984%20-%200397.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FEUwAAAAIBAJ&pg=1003,558109&dq=air-canada+fifth-freedom&hl=en |title=Air Canada aims at business traveler with Singapore route |date=12 January 1985 |access-date=21 February 2011 |archive-date=22 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822233703/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FEUwAAAAIBAJ&pg=1003,558109&dq=air-canada+fifth-freedom&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref><!-- Zurich-Delhi, London Heathrow-Delhi, London Heathrow-Nice, Honolulu-Sydney, and Honolulu-Melbourne. ref needed -->

===Joint ventures===
Air Canada have [[joint ventures]] with the following airlines:<ref>{{cite web | title=Air Canada Codeshare and Other Airline Partners | url=https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/book/routes-and-partners/star-alliance-and-other-airline-partners.html#/home: }}</ref>
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Lufthansa]]
* [[United Airlines]]
{{div col end}}

===Codeshare agreements===
Air Canada [[Codeshare agreement|codeshares]] with the following airlines:<ref name="Partners">{{cite web |title=Air Canada Codeshare Partners |url=https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/book/routes-and-partners/star-alliance-and-other-airline-partners.html |website=Air Canada |access-date=22 April 2020 |archive-date=2 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102033808/https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/book/routes-and-partners/star-alliance-and-other-airline-partners.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Aegean Airlines]]
* [[Aer Lingus]]
* [[airBaltic]]
* [[Air China]]
* [[Air Dolomiti]]
* [[Air India]]
* [[Air New Zealand]]
* [[All Nippon Airways]]
* [[Asiana Airlines]]
* [[Austrian Airlines]]
* [[Avianca]]
* [[Azul Brazilian Airlines]]
* [[Brussels Airlines]]
* [[Cathay Pacific]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/cathay-pacific-signs-codeshare-deal-with-air-canada/|title=Cathay Pacific signs codeshare deal with Air Canada|access-date=4 January 2017|archive-date=8 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208055151/https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/cathay-pacific-signs-codeshare-deal-with-air-canada/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Central Mountain Air]]
* [[Croatia Airlines]]
* [[Deutsche Bahn]] {{small|(railway)}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aircanada.com/media/air-canada-enhances-its-rail-connections-in-germany-through-codeshare-on-lufthansa-express-rail-operated-by-deutsche-bahn/|title=Air Canada Enhances its Rail Connections in Germany Through Codeshare on Lufthansa Express Rail, Operated by Deutsche Bahn|website=Air Canada Enhances its Rail Connections in Germany Through Codeshare on Lufthansa Express Rail, Operated by Deutsche Bahn}}</ref>
* [[Discover Airlines]]
* [[Edelweiss Air]]
* [[Egyptair]]
* [[Emirates (airline)|Emirates]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.routesonline.com/news/29/breaking-news/298341/air-canada-emirates-to-codeshare/|title=Air Canada, Emirates To Codeshare|access-date=14 July 2022|work=RoutesOnline|archive-date=13 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013093642/https://www.routesonline.com/news/29/breaking-news/298341/air-canada-emirates-to-codeshare/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Ethiopian Airlines]]
* [[Etihad Airways]]
* [[Eurowings]]
* [[EVA Air]]
* [[Flydubai]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Air Canada Signs Flydubai Codeshare Agreement|url= https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airports-networks/air-canada-signs-flydubai-codeshare-agreement |publisher=aviationweek.com |date=18 May 2023 |access-date=21 May 2023}}</ref>
* [[Gol Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes]]
* [[KTX]] {{small|(railway)}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/book/routes-and-partners/intermodal/south-korea.html|title=Korail AREX & KTX trains in South Korea|website=www.aircanada.com}}</ref>
* [[ITA Airways]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Adler |first1=David |title=Air Canada and ITA Airways Enhance Connectivity with New Codeshare Agreement |url=https://passport.news/article/845 |access-date=15 July 2025 |work=PassportNews |date=14 July 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[LOT Polish Airlines]]
* [[Lufthansa]]
* [[Middle East Airlines]]
* [[Renfe]] {{small|(railway)}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/book/routes-and-partners/intermodal/spain.html|title=Renfe Viajeros railways in Spain|website=www.aircanada.com}}</ref>
* [[Scoot]]
* [[Singapore Airlines]]
* [[SriLankan Airlines]]
* [[Swiss International Air Lines]]
* [[TAP Air Portugal]]
* [[Thai Airways International]]
* [[Turkish Airlines]]
* [[United Airlines]]
* [[Virgin Australia]]
{{div col end}}

=== Interline agreements ===
Air Canada has [[Interlining|Interline agreement]]s with the following airlines:<ref name="Partners"/>
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Aer Lingus]]
* [[Aegean Airlines]]
* [[Aerolíneas Argentinas]]
* [[airBaltic]]
* [[Air Calédonie]]
* [[Air China]]
* [[Air Creebec]]
* [[Air Dolomiti]]
* [[Air India]]
* [[Air Mauritius]]
* [[Air New Zealand]]
* [[All Nippon Airways]]
* [[American Airlines]]
* [[Asiana Airlines]]
* [[Austrian Airlines]]
* [[Avianca]]
* [[Avianca Costa Rica]]
* [[Avianca Ecuador]]
* [[Avianca El Salvador]]
* [[Azul Brazilian Airlines]]
* [[Bamboo Airways]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bambooairways.com/vn/en/bamboo-club/earn-points/airlines#:~:text=Air%20Canada,View%20more | title=Airlines Partners - Bamboo Airways }}</ref>
* [[Bearskin Airlines]]
* [[Biman Bangladesh Airlines]]
* [[British Airways]]
* [[Brussels Airlines]]
* [[Canadian North]]
* [[Caribbean Airlines]]
* [[Cathay Pacific]]
* [[Cayman Airways]]
* [[Central Mountain Air]]
* [[China Airlines]]
* [[China Eastern Airlines]]
* [[China Southern Airlines]]
* [[Copa Airlines]]
* [[Croatia Airlines]]
* [[Delta Air Lines]]
* [[Edelweiss Air]]
* [[Egyptair]]
* [[Emirates (airline)|Emirates]]
* [[Ethiopian Airlines]]
* [[Etihad Airways]]
* [[Eurowings]]
* [[EVA Air]]
* [[Fiji Airways]]
* [[Garuda Indonesia]]
* [[Gol Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes]]
* [[Gulf Air]]
* [[Hawaiian Airlines]]
* [[Hong Kong Airlines]]
* [[Iberia (airline)|Iberia]]
* [[Icelandair]]
* [[Japan Airlines]]
* [[Jeju Air]]
* [[Jetstar]]
* [[Jetstar Japan]]
* [[Juneyao Airlines]]
* [[Kenya Airways]]
* [[KLM]]
* [[Korean Air]]
* [[Kuwait Airways]]
* [[LATAM Airlines Group]]
* [[LIAT]]
* [[LOT Polish Airlines]]
* [[Lufthansa]]
* [[Luxair]]
* [[Malaysia Airlines]]
* [[Olympic Air]]
* [[Oman Air]]
* [[Pakistan International Airlines]]<ref name="PIA Codeshare and Interline">{{Cite web|url=https://www.piac.com.pk/interline-travel|title=INTERLINE AND CODESHARE TRAVEL|website=Pakistan International Airlines|access-date=7 November 2019|archive-date=8 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308184637/https://www.piac.com.pk/interline-travel|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Pascan Aviation]]
* [[Philippine Airlines]]
* [[PAL Airlines]]
* [[Qatar Airways]]
* [[Qantas]]
* [[Royal Air Maroc]]
* [[Royal Jordanian]]
* [[Saudia]]
* [[Scandinavian Airlines]]
* [[Shenzhen Airlines]]
* [[Singapore Airlines]]
* [[South African Airways]]
* [[SriLankan Airlines]]
* [[Swiss International Air Lines]]
* [[TAP Air Portugal]]
* [[Thai Airways International]]
* [[Tunisair]]
* [[Turkish Airlines]]
* [[Ukraine International Airlines]]
* [[United Airlines]] 
* [[Vietnam Airlines]]
* [[Virgin Atlantic]]
* [[Virgin Australia]]
* [[Widerøe]]
{{div col end}}

==Fleet==
{{Excerpt|Air Canada fleet}}

==Services==
Air Canada has three classes of service, [[Business class|Business/Signature]], [[Premium economy class|Premium Economy]], and [[Economy class|Economy]]. On most long-haul international and short-haul routes operated by widebody aircraft, ''Signature Class'', ''Premium Economy'', and ''Economy Class'' are offered;<ref name="EconomyInt"/><ref name="ExecFirst"/> most short-haul and domestic routes feature ''Business Class'' and ''Economy Class''.<ref name="EconomyNA"/><ref name="ExecNA"/> All mainline seats feature AVOD (Audio Video On Demand) and mood lighting. Air Canada Express features ''Business Class'' and ''Economy Class'', on CRJ900 and Embraer E175 aircraft; all other Air Canada Express aircraft have one-class economy cabins. All narrowbody mainline aircraft, as well as Air Canada Express CRJ900 and Embraer E175 aircraft have onboard Wi-Fi installed, which is also being installed on all widebody aircraft.

Starting in 2025, Air Canada, in partnership with [[Bell Canada]], will roll out fast and free Wi-Fi to Aeroplan members on Wi-Fi-equipped planes flying within North America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Air Canada said about 85% of its fleet will be covered. It plans to roll it out to its international fleet starting in 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-12 |title=Air Canada to Launch Free Inflight Wi-Fi Starting in May 2025 |url=https://www.travelmarketreport.com/air/articles/air-canada-to-launch-free-inflight-wi-fi-starting-in-may-2025 |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=Travel Market Report}}</ref>

In the spring of 1987, Air Canada enacted no-smoking flights between Canada and [[New York City]] as a test. After a survey reported that 96% of passengers supported the smoking ban, Air Canada extended the ban to other flights.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Warren |date=March 24, 1988 |title=NORTHWEST BANS SMOKING ON DOMESTIC FLIGHTS |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1988/03/24/northwest-bans-smoking-on-domestic-flights/bc6a5472-964d-41e8-9211-8c2a134ae9ee/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229003749/http://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/24/us/northwest-airlines-bans-smoking-on-most-flights.html |archive-date=29 December 2016 |access-date=February 2, 2024 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref>

===Cabin crew===
On 9 February 2017, a new uniform scheme coinciding with Canada's 150th and Air Canada's 80th anniversaries was unveiled. Air Canada partnered with Vancouver-born fashion designer Christopher Bates to design the new uniforms which incorporate a base colour of black or grey with red lettering and the famous maple leaf.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/air-canada-colours-1.3974114|title=Air Canada shows off new colour schemes for planes and staff uniforms|access-date=9 February 2017|archive-date=10 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210002715/http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/air-canada-colours-1.3974114|url-status=live}}</ref>

Between 2004 and 2017, Air Canada uniforms used a midnight blue colour. The uniforms were designed by Canadian fashion designer Debbie Shuchat. At a presentation in the Toronto Airport hangar, [[Celine Dion]] helped the newly solvent airline debut its new image.<ref name="ACnewlook" />

==Frequent flyer program==
{{Main|Aeroplan}}
Aeroplan is Air Canada's frequent flyer rewards program, both allowing for points collection and spending, as well as status and rewards as an Air Canada customer. After Air Canada and Aeroplan changed the division of points collection and redemption, Air Canada introduced an internal rewards program, Altitude. The two programs operate in conjunction.

In May 2017, Air Canada announced it plans to launch a new loyalty program to replace Aeroplan and Altitude in 2020.<ref>{{cite news|title=Galleries Aimia shares crash after Air Canada parts ways with Aeroplan loyalty program|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/air-canada-aeroplan-1.4109868|access-date=12 May 2017|date=11 May 2017|archive-date=11 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511233645/http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/air-canada-aeroplan-1.4109868|url-status=live}}</ref> On 10 January 2019, Air Canada re-acquired Aeroplan from Aimia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/strategy/air-canada-closes-aeroplan-loyalty-programme-purchase/130931.article|title=Air Canada closes Aeroplan loyalty programme purchase|last=Hemmerdinger|first=Jon|date=10 January 2019|website=Flight Global|language=en|access-date=6 January 2020|archive-date=25 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725004731/https://www.flightglobal.com/strategy/air-canada-closes-aeroplan-loyalty-programme-purchase/130931.article|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://skift.com/2019/01/15/air-canada-completes-bringing-aeroplan-loyalty-program-into-its-fold/|title=Air Canada Completes Bringing Aeroplan Loyalty Program Into Its Fold|date=15 January 2019|website=Skift|language=en-US|access-date=6 January 2020|archive-date=15 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115120932/https://skift.com/2019/01/15/air-canada-completes-bringing-aeroplan-loyalty-program-into-its-fold/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2020, Air Canada Altitude and Aeroplan merged, with Aeroplan as the surviving entity.<ref>{{Cite web|date=11 August 2020|title=Here Comes The New Aeroplan|url=https://onemileatatime.com/aeroplan-new-2020/|access-date=28 December 2020|website=One Mile at a Time|language=en-US|archive-date=26 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201226150404/https://onemileatatime.com/aeroplan-new-2020/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Air Canada Altitude===
[[File:Air Canada Priority Check-in@PEK (20140405151039).JPG|thumb|A priority check-in queue at [[Beijing Capital International Airport]] for members of "Air Canada Altitude", the airline's frequent flyers program]]
On 20 September 2012, Air Canada unveiled its new frequent flyer status program named "Air Canada Altitude" to supplement Aeroplan. Aeroplan remained the frequent flyer rewards program, collecting miles which can be "spent", whereas status level is determined by Altitude standing.

There are five levels of membership in Air Canada's Altitude Program: Basic, Prestige 25K, Elite 35K, Elite 50K, Elite 75K and Super Elite 100K. The latter three are called "Top Tier" membership levels and provide travel benefits such as upgrades, lounge access, priority services (e.g., check-in, luggage handling), and bonuses when earning miles through air travel. In order to qualify for these levels, a member must earn, through flight activities, a certain number of miles ''or'' a certain number of segments ''and'' spending some level of money. Altitude refers to these as Altitude Qualifying Miles (AQM), Segments (AQS), and Dollars (AQD).

Prestige members and Altitude Elite 35 K receive Star Alliance Silver status, while Elite 50K, Elite 75K, and Super Elite 100K members receive Star Alliance Gold status.

Air Canada Status Miles are calculated on an annual basis to determine Altitude Membership Status for the following benefit year (1 March through 28 February). At the 35K and above levels, that level of status is granted when achieved, for the remainder of the current year, as well as for the next year.

This coincides with the alliance with [[Star Alliance]], and this can give Star Alliance Gold passengers access to any Star Alliance lounge and discounts or upgrades on another Star Alliance member.

On 8 November 2020, Air Canada Altitude renamed as Aeroplan Elite Status. Altitude Qualifying Miles (AQM), Segments (AQS), and Dollars (AQD) have been replaced by Status Qualifying Miles (SQM), Segments (SQS), and Dollars (SQD).<ref>{{Cite web|date=12 August 2020|title=Aeroplan Elite Status: Air Canada's New Elite Program|url=https://princeoftravel.com/blog/new-aeroplan-elite-status/|access-date=28 December 2020|website=Prince of Travel|language=en-CA|archive-date=3 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203160916/https://princeoftravel.com/blog/new-aeroplan-elite-status/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Accidents and incidents==
{{Table alignment}}
{{For|incidents before 1963|Trans-Canada Air Lines#Accidents and incidents}}
{|class="wikitable defaultcenter col3left"
|-
!Date
!Flight number
!Description
|-
|13 June 1964
|3277
|[[Vickers Viscount]] registration CF-THT was damaged beyond economical repair when it crash-landed at Toronto Airport after the failure of two engines on approach.<ref name=ASN130664>{{cite web |url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19640613-1 |title=Accident description |publisher=Aviation Safety Network |access-date=6 October 2009 |archive-date=25 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025091126/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19640613-1 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|19 May 1967
|N/A
|[[Douglas DC-8|McDonnell Douglas DC-8-54F]] CF-TJM crashed and burned on a training flight while making a three-engine landing at [[Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport|Ottawa]], Ontario. All three crew members were killed. There were no passengers on the flight.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19670519-0 | title=Accident description | access-date=24 May 2009 | date=19 May 1967 | publisher=Aviation Safety Network | archive-date=23 October 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023063212/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19670519-0 | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|11 September 1968
|303
|A [[Vickers Viscount]] was hijacked by Charles Lavern Beasley, a Texas native and activist, who demanded that the plane be taken to [[Cuba]]. It made a successful emergency landing in Montreal, with no injuries reported. It was the first hijacking of its kind in Canadian history.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leger |first=Isabelle |title=How Canada's first skyjacker boarded a Saint John flight and what happened next |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-podcast-nothing-happens-here-saint-john-skyjacking-1.7456365 |access-date=February 21, 2025 |website=CBC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=MacRae |first=Avery |title=Passengers recall memories from Canada's first recorded plane hijacking|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/new-brunswick/article/passengers-recall-memories-from-canadas-first-recorded-plane-hijacking/ |access-date=February 21, 2025 |website=CTV News|date=6 February 2025 }}</ref>
|-
|7 April 1969
|N/A
|[[Vickers Viscount]] registration CF-THK was damaged beyond economic repair by a fire which occurred on takeoff from [[Sept-Îles Airport]]. The aircraft landed back at Sept-Îles, but one passenger was killed in the fire.<ref name=ASN070469>{{cite web |url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19690407-0 |title=Accident description |publisher=Aviation Safety Network |access-date=7 October 2009 |archive-date=25 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025095957/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19690407-0 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|1 March 1970
|106
|[[Vickers Viscount]] CF-THY collided in mid-air with [[ERCO Ercoupe|Ercoupe 415]] CF-SHN on approach to [[Vancouver International Airport]]. The Ercoupe pilot was killed.<ref name=ASN010370>{{cite web |url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19700301-0 |title=Accident description |publisher=Aviation Safety Network |access-date=8 October 2009 |archive-date=22 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111222113243/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19700301-0 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|5 July 1970
|[[Air Canada Flight 621|621]]
|[[Douglas DC-8|McDonnell Douglas DC-8-63]] registration CF-TIW exploded from a fuel line rupture caused by engine 4 striking the runway in Toronto, Ontario, during a landing attempt. All 109 passengers/crew were killed.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.airdisaster.com/cgi-bin/view_details.cgi?date=07051970&reg=CF-TIW&airline=Air+Canada | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070321040724/http://www.airdisaster.com/cgi-bin/view_details.cgi?date=07051970&reg=CF-TIW&airline=Air+Canada | archive-date=21 March 2007 | access-date=24 May 2009 | title=Accident synopsis 07051970 | date=5 July 1970 | url-status=usurped | publisher=AirDisaster.com}}</ref>
|-
|21 June 1973
|890
|[[Douglas DC-8|McDonnell Douglas DC-8-53]], registration CF-TIJ caught fire and was burnt out during refuelling at Terminal 2, Toronto Pearson International Airport, Ontario; no fatalities.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19730621-0 | title=Hull-loss description | access-date=24 May 2009 | date=21 June 1973 | publisher=Aviation Safety Network | archive-date=23 October 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023221052/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19730621-0 | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|26 June 1978
|[[Air Canada Flight 189|189]]
|[[McDonnell Douglas DC-9]]-32, registration CF-TLV overran the runway in Toronto after a blown tire aborted the takeoff. Two of the 107 people on board were killed.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.airdisaster.com/cgi-bin/view_details.cgi?date=06261978&reg=CF-TLV&airline=Air+Canada | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070319163158/http://www.airdisaster.com/cgi-bin/view_details.cgi?date=06261978&reg=CF-TLV&airline=Air+Canada | archive-date=19 March 2007 | title=Accident synopsis 06261978 | access-date=24 May 2009 | url-status=usurped | date=26 June 1978}}</ref>
|-
|17 September 1979
|680
|[[McDonnell Douglas DC-9]]-32, registration C-FTLU left [[Logan International Airport]] in [[Boston|Boston, MA]] for [[Yarmouth, NS]] as Flight 680. Approximately 14 minutes after takeoff, the entire [[Empennage|tailcone section]] of the aircraft separated resulting in rapid decompression at an altitude of {{convert|25000|ft|m}}, leaving a large hole in the rear fuselage. A beverage cart and other items in the cabin were blown out of the aircraft over the Atlantic Ocean, but there were no fatalities or significant injuries. The aircraft safely returned to Boston. Fatigue cracks were determined to be the cause. This same aircraft would be destroyed by a fire nearly four years later on 2 June 1983 as [[Air Canada Flight 797]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Hamilton |first=Sophia |date=24 November 2022 |title=Ultimate Guide to Air Canada Upgrade |url=https://airlinespolicy.com/blog/ultimate-guide-to-air-canada-upgrade/ |access-date=2 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=1 October 1979 |title=Nation: Air Scares - TIME |url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,947441,00.html |access-date=2 February 2024 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |archive-date=2024-02-02  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240202121325/https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,947441,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|2 June 1982
|N/A
|[[McDonnell Douglas DC-9]]-32 registration C-FTLY exploded during a maintenance period in [[Montréal–Trudeau International Airport|Montreal]], Quebec; no fatalities.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.airdisaster.com/cgi-bin/view_details.cgi?date=06021982&reg=CF-TLY&airline=Air+Canada | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070321075135/http://www.airdisaster.com/cgi-bin/view_details.cgi?date=06021982&reg=CF-TLY&airline=Air+Canada | archive-date=21 March 2007 | title=Accident Database | date=2 June 1982 | access-date=26 May 2009 | url-status=usurped | publisher=AirDisaster.com }}</ref>
|-
|2 June 1983
|[[Air Canada Flight 797|797]]
|[[McDonnell Douglas DC-9]]-32 C-FTLU had an electrical fire in the aft lavatory during flight, resulting in an emergency landing at [[Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]]. During the emergency evacuation, 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. The captain was the last person to exit the aircraft.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airdisaster.com/cgi-bin/view_details.cgi?date=06021983&reg=C-FTLU&airline=Air+Canada |title=Accident synopsis 06021983 |access-date=24 May 2009 |date=2 June 1983 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611014227/http://www.airdisaster.com/cgi-bin/view_details.cgi?date=06021983&reg=C-FTLU&airline=Air+Canada |archive-date=11 June 2009 }}</ref> This incident was also featured as "Fire Flight" of Canadian television series ''[[Mayday (Canadian TV series)|Mayday]]'' [[List of Mayday episodes|season 4 episode 3]] (known as "Fiery Landing" of ''Air Emergency'' in the US, ''Air Crash Investigation'' in the UK and Australia). This is Air Canada's most recent fatal accident.
|-
|23 July 1983
|[[Gimli Glider|143]]
|Boeing 767-200 C-GAUN glided to an emergency landing in [[Gimli Industrial Park Airport|Gimli]] after running out of fuel {{convert|12300|m|ft}} above [[Red Lake, Ontario]]. Some people suffered minor injuries during the evacuation due to the steep angle of the escape slides at the rear of the aircraft, caused by the collapse of the nose gear. This incident was the subject of the TV movie, ''[[Falling from the Sky: Flight 174]]'' and the book, ''Freefall'', by William Hoffer.<ref>{{cite news |last=Deveau |first=Scott |date=14 April 2013 |title='Gimli Glider' pilot recalls heroic landing of 767 |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/gimli-glider-pilot-recalls-heroic-landing-of-air-canada-767-as-famed-plane-put-up-for-sale |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080629050851/http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=00ad8889-e4ee-4f6a-8b5a-1ccd23f2daf3&k=19959 |archive-date=29 June 2008 |access-date=2 February 2024 |newspaper=[[National Post]]}}</ref> This incident was also featured on the [[National Geographic Channel]] and [[Discovery Channel]] series ''[[Mayday (Canadian TV series)|Mayday]]'' [[List of Mayday episodes|season 5 episode 2]]. 
|-
|16 December 1997
|[[Air Canada Flight 646|646]]
|Air Canada Flight 646 departed Toronto-Lester B. Pearson International Airport, Ontario, at 9:24 PM eastern standard time on a scheduled flight to Fredericton, New Brunswick. On arrival, the [[Canadair CRJ100]] aircraft, registration C-FSKI, experienced an unstabilized approach in poor visibility and stalled aerodynamically during a late go-around attempt. The aircraft skidded {{convert|2100|ft|m|-1}} from the point of touchdown and hit a tree. An evacuation was conducted; however, seven passengers were trapped in the aircraft until rescued. Of the 39 passengers and 3 crew members, 9 were seriously injured and the rest received minor or no injuries. The accident occurred at 11:48 PM Atlantic standard time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bst-tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/aviation/1997/a97h0011/a97h0011.asp|title=Transportation Safety Board of Canada – Aviation Investigation Report A97H0011|date=15 April 1999|access-date=24 April 2015|archive-date=1 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101092734/http://www.bst-tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/aviation/1997/a97h0011/a97h0011.asp|url-status=live}}</ref> Air Canada was heavily criticized in the media over its employees allegedly entering the crash site and removing the aircraft decals identifying its operator without the permission of the authorities.
|-
|29 March 2015
|[[Air Canada Flight 624|624]]
|Air Canada Flight 624 was an [[Airbus A320]] C-FTJP flying from Toronto Pearson International Airport to [[Halifax Stanfield International Airport]]. After 15 minutes in a holding pattern due to a severe winter storm and poor visibility, during approach in Halifax, the plane impacted the runway approach lights and power lines knocking out power and communications at the airport. It then impacted the ground 300m short of the runway, continuing on to impact the localizer antenna array, and breaking off its landing gear. The plane then touched down a second time and slid down the runway, losing one of its engines. All 133 passengers and five crew evacuated and survived. 23 people were sent to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/air-canada-flight-leaves-runway-in-halifax-23-sent-to-hospital-1.3013979|title=Air Canada AC624 touched down 335 metres short of runway, TSB says|date=29 March 2015|access-date=24 April 2015|archive-date=26 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126083121/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/air-canada-flight-leaves-runway-in-halifax-23-sent-to-hospital-1.3013979|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=March 29, 2015 |title=Air Canada Provides Update No. 3 on AC624 |url=https://mraircanada.mediaroom.com/news-releases?item=137331 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402101445/http://aircanada.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=867 |archive-date=2 April 2015 |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=mraircanada.mediaroom.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/air-canada-ac624-crash-too-soon-to-blame-pilots-safety-expert-says-1.3014376|title=Air Canada Flight 624 crash investigators recover cockpit recorders|date=31 March 2015|access-date=24 April 2015|archive-date=30 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150330130104/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/air-canada-ac624-crash-too-soon-to-blame-pilots-safety-expert-says-1.3014376|url-status=live}}</ref> The aircraft was [[Total loss|written off]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}
|-
|7 July 2017
|[[Air Canada Flight 759|759]]
|At the conclusion of the regularly scheduled international passenger flight from Toronto to San Francisco, [[Air Canada Flight 759]] nearly landed on a taxiway which already had four fully loaded and fuelled aircraft holding short for takeoff. A retired pilot stated the runway confusion that almost happened "probably came close to the greatest aviation disaster in history" as five aircraft and over 1,000 passengers were at imminent risk.<ref name=CNN-170711>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/11/us/air-canada-flight-runway-trnd/index.html |title=Air Canada plane nearly lands on a crowded taxiway at San Francisco airport |author1=Levenson, Eric |author2=Chan, Stella |author3=Hassan, Carma |author4=Ostrower, Jon |date=11 July 2017 |publisher=CNN |access-date=18 July 2017 |archive-date=2 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802124306/http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/11/us/air-canada-flight-runway-trnd/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=TS-170711>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/07/11/air-canada-flight-nearly-lands-on-taxiway-at-san-francisco-airport.html |title='Close to the greatest aviation disaster in history:' Air Canada pilot almost lands on busy taxiway |author1=Spurr, Ben |author2=Howells, Laura |date=11 July 2017 |newspaper=The Star |access-date=18 July 2017 |archive-date=30 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171030075339/https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/07/11/air-canada-flight-nearly-lands-on-taxiway-at-san-francisco-airport.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|}

==See also==
{{col div|colwidth=22em}}

* {{anl|ACE Aviation Holdings}}
* {{anl|Air Canada Rouge}}
* {{anl|Air Transat}}
* [[Transportation in Canada#Air transport|Air transport in Canada]]
* {{anl|Chorus Aviation}}
* {{anl|Jazz (airline)|Jazz Aviation LP}}
* [[List of airlines of Canada]]
* [[List of airports in Canada]]
* [[List of companies of Canada]]
* [[Transportation in Canada]]
{{colend}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book |last=McArthur |first=Keith |date=2004 |title=Air monopoly: how Robert Milton's Air Canada won and lost control of Canada's skies |publisher=M & S |isbn=0-7710-5688-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7LMuSlz-DIUC&pg=PR3 |ref=none}}
* {{Cite book |last=Milton |first=Robert |date=2004 |title=Straight from the Top: The Truth About Air Canada |publisher=Greystone Books |isbn=1-55365-051-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UiqbULKfCpYC&pg=PP1 |ref=none}}
* {{cite book |last1=Pigott |first1=Peter |title=Air Canada: the history |date=2014 |publisher=Dundurn |location=Toronto |isbn=978-1-4597-1952-1 |url=https://archive.org/details/aircanadahistory0000pigo |url-access=registration}}

== External links ==
<!-- Per [[WP:ELMINOFFICIAL]], choose one official website only -->
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
* [https://flyjazz.ca/en/ Air Canada Jazz]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150710050639/http://www.cbc.ca/archives/topic/turbulent-skies-the-air-canada-story CBC Digital Archives&nbsp;– Turbulent Skies: The Air Canada Story]

{{Air Canada}}
{{Star Alliance}}
{{Airlines of Canada}}
{{Morningstar National Bank Québec Index}}
{{IATA members|americas}}
{{Airlines for America}}
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