Air Canada’s flagship international Signature Class is set to undergo an upgrade.
Air Canada is in the process of developing a second-generation business class for its Boeing 787 and 777 jets. The airline aims to retrofit the existing fleet with these new suites and also include them in the delivery of yet-to-be-received aircraft.
Air Canada’s current Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet consists of 38 aircraft, with 30 of them being the long-range 787-9 model. The airline is expecting delivery of its next Boeing 787-9 in June, with another one scheduled for delivery next year.
The Boeing 787 is extensively used in Air Canada’s operations, serving both domestic routes such as Vancouver-Toronto and international flights to the US, UK, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region.
Air Canada’s Signature Class, introduced in mid-2018, offers flatbed business class pods based on the Collins Aerospace Super Diamond platform. Collins has further developed this seat into the Elements suite, which features sliding privacy doors and improved passenger space and amenities. The Elements suite has also been adopted by other airlines, including Starlux for its Airbus A350 business class and Etihad Airways for its new Boeing 787s.
In the fiercely competitive market of premium airline seats, there is a wide array of alternatives offered by various seat-makers, contributing to an industry estimated to be worth approximately US$10 billion annually.
Air Canada is not only focusing on its wide-body jets but is also developing a single-aisle Signature Class for the Airbus A321XLR aircraft, scheduled for delivery from 2025. The suites for the A321XLR are being developed in collaboration with London-based studio Acumen and the airline’s in-house design team.
