What happened
- Rouge will transition from Airbus A320-family aircraft to Boeing 737 MAX 8s.
- The 737 MAXs will feature a new configuration: 177 seats total (12 business, 165 economy), eliminating one row of business class to add two rows of economy with slightly reduced pitch.
- Rouge passengers will gain seat-back televisions and fast, free Wi-Fi for Aeroplan members, addressing previous product gaps.
- Rouge will open a crew base in Vancouver to support West Coast expansion. Mainline Fleet Changes:
- Ex-Rouge A319s will be retired.
- Ex-Rouge A320s and A321s will be converted to mainline service, receiving Air Canada's latest cabin standard.
- Mainline will continue to operate A220-300s and receive new A321XLRs for long-haul and transborder routes. This strategic shift aims to enhance Rouge's competitiveness in leisure markets while modernizing the mainline narrow-body fleet
Air Canada is accelerating the transfer of its entire Boeing 737 MAX fleet to its low-cost subsidiary, Air Canada Rouge, completing the move by the end of 2026 (previously targeted for 2028). Rouge Fleet Changes: