Air Canada has confirmed it has signed a firm order with Boing for 18 brand-new 787-10 Dreamliner aircraft, with the option for a further 12 units at a later date. Deliveries are expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025 and continue through to the first quarter of 2027. These new aircraft will replace the currently ageing and less fuel-efficient wide-body jets in the current Air Canada Fleet.
“Air Canada has made investing in the passenger experience a core priority. Our experience shows customers greatly enjoy flying on the Dreamliner, so we are pleased to offer them a larger version of this popular aircraft, which will premiere a new, state-of-the-art interior cabin design. As importantly, the 787 is highly fuel efficient and will generate operational savings as well as support our sustainability goals of reducing emissions,” said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada.
At the moment, Canada’s flag carrier operates 30 787-9 and eight 787-8 variants of the Dreamliner, with two additional 787-9 aircraft due for delivery from a previous order. The 787-10 is the largest model of the Dreamliner family and is able to carry over 330 customers based on the seat configuration, and has 175 cubic metres (6,187 cubic feet) of cargo volume.
According to Boeing, the 787-10 has up to 25 per cent lower fuel emissions per seat than the aircraft it will be replacing. The acquisition of the new aircraft is part of an ongoing fleet renewal programme at Air Canada, with the airline continuing to take delivery of new Airbus A220 aircraft, as well as plans to acquire 28 extra-long range (XLR) versions of the Airbus A321neo aircraft, also starting in 2025.
In addition, as previously announced, Air Canada has finalised a purchase agreement for 30 ES-30 electric-hybrid aircraft under development by Heart Aerospace, which are due to enter into service in 2028.