A New Era in Long-Haul: Air Canada to Acquire Airbus A350-1000 Widebody Aircraft to Support International Network Growth
- Airline confirms an order for eight aircraft, with rights to purchase eight more
- First delivery of this state-of-the-art aircraft is expected in 2030
- Aircraft unlocks a new generation of long-haul capabilities
- Cabin design provides better experience for customer comfort
MONTRÉAL, Feb. 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Air Canada today announced the next phase of its fleet modernization program with the addition of the Airbus A350-1000 widebody aircraft. The airline will welcome eight aircraft to its fleet, and has rights to purchase eight other A350-1000s, with deliveries scheduled to begin in the second half of 2030.
A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link.
“Air Canada’s acquisition of the Airbus A350-1000 will further solidify our position as a leading global airline through the next decade. This state-of-the-art aircraft adds a new dimension to Air Canada’s long-haul capabilities, with impressive range, enhanced payload, and proven economics that unlock new possibilities for long-haul flying for our customers,” said Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, and President of Cargo at Air Canada. “These highly capable aircraft complement our existing fleet by providing flexibility in support of a growing, resilient, and diversified future network. The Airbus A350-1000 will play a central role in defining Air Canada’s next era, connecting our customers, our hubs, and our country to the world.”
“The addition of the Airbus A350-1000 to our fleet is a forward-looking investment that strengthens Air Canada’s long-term cost efficiency,” said John Di Bert, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, Air Canada. “These aircraft will deliver improved operating economics, enhance our operational reliability, and ensure we remain competitive across our global network. The aircraft’s lighter materials and advanced engines deliver meaningful fuel-burn improvements versus the aircraft they replace, supporting our financial and environmental objectives. This order is another step in the modernization of our fleet and is aligned with our capital allocation priorities and our target to maintain capital investments at or below 12 per cent of revenues.”
Powered by the XWB97 engine from Rolls Royce and fabricated using lighter weight materials, it is estimated the aircraft will deliver up to a 25 per cent fuel consumption reduction compared to the previous generation aircraft, as estimated by Airbus. The A350-1000 has a potential range of approximately 9,000 nautical miles.
According to Airbus, customers will experience the quietest twin-aisle cabin available. It is designed to be pressurized to only 6,000 feet to reduce stress on the body, minimize jet lag and deliver a noticeably more comfortable travel experience. The A350-1000 will come equipped with the latest generation in-flight entertainment screens and connectivity, as well as Air Canada’s new cabin standard, which is being introduced later this year.
Fleet Modernization
The order for eight A350-1000s is in addition to the 14 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners expected to start entering service later this year. Air Canada is also set to welcome in the coming months the first of its 30 Airbus A321XLRs. Air Canada also continues to take deliveries of the Canadian-assembled Airbus A220, with 23 aircraft remaining on its firm order of 65. An additional five Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, on lease, are expected to service in 2026.
These aircraft will enter service with Air Canada’s next generation cabin design and standard, including enhanced connectivity and in-flight entertainment offerings.
About Air Canada
Air Canada is Canada 's largest airline, the country’s flag carrier and a founding member of Star Alliance, the world 's most comprehensive air transportation network. Headquartered in Montréal, Air Canada provides scheduled service directly to more than 180 airports in Canada, the United States and Internationally on six continents. It holds a Four-Star ranking from Skytrax. Air Canada’s Aeroplan program is Canada’s premier travel loyalty program, with more than 10 million members worldwide. Members can earn or redeem points on the world’s largest airline partner network of 45 airlines, plus through an extensive range of merchandise, hotel and car rental partners. Through Air Canada Vacations, it offers more travel choices than any other Canadian tour operator to hundreds of destinations worldwide, with a wide selection of hotels, flights, cruises, day tours, and car rentals. Its freight division, Air Canada Cargo, provides air freight lift and connectivity to hundreds of destinations across six continents using Air Canada’s passenger and freighter aircraft. Air Canada’s climate-related ambition includes a long-term aspirational goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. For additional information, please see Air Canada’s TCFD disclosure. Air Canada shares are publicly traded on the TSX (AC) in Canada and the OTCQX (ACDVF) in the US.
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