Air Canada Unveils First Upgraded Airbus A321 with an All-New Interior and Industry-Leading Cabin Technology
On board Air Canada flight AC692, operated with Fin 451 (C-GITU) Saturday, customers shared a pilot’s eye view of the take-off due to new exterior cameras connected to the aircraft’s seatback entertainment system. The new camera feature is a first for a narrow-body aircraft. It is one of several innovations on Air Canada’s first upgraded Airbus A321. The airline has redesigned this aircraft from nose to tail.
- Cabin improvements include larger overhead bins, new seating, and a state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment system.
- Industry-first exterior cameras on a narrow-body aircraft provide customers with real-time, high-definition flight views on IFE seatback screens.
- Aircraft will serve as an onboard trial environment for new technologies such as Bluetooth audio at seatbacks and free high-speed Internet available to all customers.
Air Canada continues to invest in customer comfort across its Airbus A321s and A320s fleet. It will feature a new cabin interior, new technologies, and services such as Bluetooth audio and free high-speed internet sponsored by Bell.
“We’re proud to welcome customers on board to experience the comfort, convenience, and connectivity of our latest cabins. These upgraded fleet interiors will align the A320s and A321s to the highly popular A220 experience, further strengthening our industry-leading product offering,” said Mark Nasr, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Digital and President of Aeroplan. “Additionally, new features such as our inflight entertainment system streaming exterior aircraft camera feeds, Bluetooth connectivity, and free, fast internet connectivity will be extremely popular with travelers. We will continue advancing our product leadership by trialing more new in-flight experiences with this A321 and expanding those learnings to additional aircraft in our fleet.”
Air Canada’s New Airbus A320 and A321 Cabin Features
- Larger overhead bins – Latest Airbus Airspace XL design, the largest overhead bins in class, will also be installed on the Airbus A321XLRs.
- Upgraded seating – Presents a standardized product across the Air Canada narrowbody fleet in Business Class and Economy. The new seats optimize passenger personal space, improve ergonomics, and provide more storage, giving customers a more comfortable experience.
- Bluetooth audio – Air Canada’s newest IFE system will feature a Bluetooth-enabled seatback monitor. Customers can connect their personal headsets while watching video on demand, live TV, or listening to podcasts or music. This initiative helps reduce the usage of single-use headphones and supports Air Canada’s sustainability objectives in reducing waste.
- New exterior cameras – Customers can now watch their flight live thanks to a new first-in-class narrowbody tail and belly camera system providing high-resolution, real-time video of the aircraft exterior.
- Full color LED mood lighting – The new cabin lighting system will allow different ambiances to be set depending on the time of day and phase of flight.
- Fast and reliable Wi-Fi – Upgraded satellite-based connectivity.
- Power options at all seats – Customers can access power outlets, USB-A, and USB-C.
Air Canada New IFE System on Airbus A321 and A320
Air Canada is installing a new IFE system on its Airbus A321 and A320 fleets. This system will feature Air Canada’s award-winning in-flight entertainment, available via screens at each seat. It offers the most extensive content of any airline in the Americas. Passengers on these flights will also enjoy live TV, including channels such as BNN, CTV, LCN, RDS, TSN1, and TSN2.
Starting this fall and continuing until the end of 2025, Air Canada will retrofit the remaining 14 Airbus A321s and eight A320s.
These upgrades will significantly improve the narrow-body cabin experience. Air Canada aligns these new cabins with the Airbus A220 and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, which make up most of the airline’s narrowbody fleet.
By implementing the new cabin, Air Canada reduced the weight of the A321 by approximately 240 kilograms. As a result, the entire fleet’s fuel consumption will decrease by more than 2.4 million liters, leading to a reduction of 6,256t CO2 equivalent in greenhouse gas emissions per year. This reduction is equivalent to the annual electricity usage of 4,185 Canadian homes.
About Air Canada
Air Canada, the largest airline in Canada, is the country’s flag carrier. It directly serves over 180 airports across Canada, the United States, and six continents globally. Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance, the world’s most comprehensive air transportation network. The airline’s Aeroplan program, Canada’s premier travel loyalty program, allows members to earn and redeem points on 45 partner airlines. It offers various rewards such as merchandise, hotel stays, and car rentals. Additionally, Air Canada Cargo, the freight division, provides air freight lift and connectivity to numerous destinations across six continents. It uses both passenger and freighter aircraft. To contribute to environmental sustainability, Air Canada has a net zero emissions goal from all its global operations by 2050. The company’s shares are publicly traded on the TSX in Canada and the OTCQX in the US.