Air Canada says it is beginning a major upgrade program for its regional Dash 8-400 fleet, which is operated under the Air Canada Express brand by Jazz Aviation.
The project covers 25 aircraft and will bring redesigned cabins, new ergonomic seating, and—for the first time on this aircraft type—onboard Wi-Fi. The upgrades will roll out in phases through 2026.
Starting in October, passengers flying from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to Montréal or Ottawa will have access to fast, free Wi-Fi, making Air Canada the first airline in the world to offer connectivity on the Dash 8-400.
“Air Canada Express is at the heart of how we serve Canadian communities. It brings people together, whether connecting families across the country, or linking businesses to the world through our global network. This innovative project is an industry-first, and it reflects the pride we take in serving customers with care and class. By bringing many of the design details and comforts of our largest jets to the Canadian-made Dash 8-400, even our shortest flights can feel special,” said Mark Nasr, Air Canada’s executive vice president and chief operations officer, on Wednesday.
The upgrades will include new 78-seat layouts with next-generation seating from Expliseat, featuring improved padding, multi-use device holders, and table trays. Cabins will also be redesigned with interiors modeled after Air Canada’s mainline jets, using colours and textures inspired by Canadian landscapes.
The Dash 8-400 is made by Calgary-based De Havilland. SpaceX’s Starlink will be available as a factory option through its OEM refurbishment program or as a retrofit for existing fleets. While Air Canada doesn’t explicitly mention Starlink Wi-Fi, De Havilland announced this today in its own press release, saying SpaceX is the provider of the new connectivity.
“The addition of Starlink on the Dash 8-400 demonstrates our commitment to continued investment in our products and to providing cutting-edge solutions for our customers,” said Ryan DeBrusk, Vice-President, Sales and Marketing, De Havilland Canada, in a statement. “With this technology, passengers can enjoy reliable, high-speed internet access for streaming, browsing and other real-time online applications – bringing the regional flying experience in line with today’s traveller expectations.”
Air Canada has already fitted 97 per cent of its mainline and Rouge fleet with Bell-sponsored Wi-Fi systems and expects to complete the transformation across all aircraft types in 2026.
Other long haul Air Canada fleets are offering satellite Wi-Fi through Eutelsat. Rival WestJet already picked Starlink for its own in-flight Wi-Fi, a project with Telus.
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Many airlines on international routes are now offering free WI-Fi (SMS) for economy passengers and full Wi-Fi for Premium Economy and higher classes.
Air Canada should be working on their conditions and their customer service