TORONTO — Air Canada is celebrating its 80th anniversary – and Canada’s 150th anniversary – with new branding and new livery across its entire fleet as well as new uniforms for its employees and new onboard menu offerings.
Air Canada unveiled its new look at three events held simultaneously in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. The airline’s new livery “signals a pivotal inflection point in our 80-year history,” said Benjamin Smith, President, Passenger Airlines at the Toronto event. “On the occasion of Canada’s 150th anniversary year, with our new livery, new uniforms for our employees, the award-winning international cabin standard introduced with the launch of our Boeing 787 aircraft, and enhanced onboard offerings, the future Air Canada represents the strength of our nation and the future-looking spirit of our airline.”
Air Canada’s fleet of 300 mainline and regional aircraft are being repainted in a black and white design that highlights the red maple leaf brand, or rondelle, placed again on the tail of the flag carrier’s fleet after an absence of 24 years.
The carrier says its new livery references Canada’s contrasting seasons, wildlife and First Nations heritage. Following yesterday’s launch the first three aircraft with the new livery went into service immediately.
Along with the new symbol, Air Canada debuted new charcoal grey and black employee uniforms with red accents and accessories. The airline’s pilots, flight attendants, airport customer service agents and other uniformed personnel will start wearing the new uniforms later this year.
New uniform – group shot with designer Christopher Bates
Concierge uniforms
Pilots uniforms
In-Flight and Airport agents uniforms
Workwear uniform for below the wings employees
Air Canada’s culinary partner, B.C.-based chef David Hawksworth, was on hand together with Quebec-based sommelier Véronique Rivest. Both were actively involved in developing Air Canada’s premium menu choices. Air Canada’s selection of Signature dishes was launched in October 2015 for Air Canada’s International Business Class customers. Rivest will pair the dishes and develop Air Canada’s wine program with a selection of Canadian wine that will change seasonally.
Guests at yesterday’s event were treated to a sampling of some of the new onboard menu choices that will be available for Air Canada customers starting this April, including Lavazza Italian coffee (the airline’s new complimentary coffee) and Toronto-based Dufflet Pastries’ pumpkin spice loaf which will be featured on flights to Europe in Premium Economy and Economy Class cabins.
In 2016 Air Canada launched 28 new routes including 15 new international and 12 U.S. trans-border routes. With new service to Morocco the airline now serves all six continents. In 2016 Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge started new services between Toronto-Seoul, Toronto-London Gatwick, Toronto-Prague, Toronto-Budapest, Toronto-Warsaw, Toronto-Glasgow, Montreal-Casablanca, Montreal-Lyon, Vancouver-Delhi, Vancouver-Brisbane and Vancouver-Dublin.
Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge will continue their global strategic expansion in 2017, with the launch of new several new international services including Toronto-Mumbai, Toronto-Berlin, Toronto- Reykjavik, Montreal-Shanghai, Montreal-Algiers, Montreal-Marseille, Montreal- Reykjavik, Vancouver-Taipei, Vancouver-Nagoya, Vancouver-Frankfurt and Vancouver-London Gatwick.
Air Canada will also receive its first B737 MAX aircraft at the end of 2017, marking the start of its narrow-body fleet renewal program, to be followed in 2019 with the delivery of its first Bombardier C Series aircraft.
To date, Air Canada has taken delivery of 23 new Boeing 787 Dreamliners with 14 more planned by 2019, all offering the new international cabin standard. In addition, the airline completed the reconfiguration of its entire Boeing 777 fleet of 25 aircraft with the state-of-the-art Dreamliner cabin configuration and inflight entertainment systems.
