Air Canada Express

History

On 26 April 2011, Air Canada announced its intention to retire the Air Canada Jazz brand and create the Air Canada Express brand. Prior to establishing the Express name, the flights operated primarily under the Air Canada Jazz or Air Canada Alliance banners.

As of January 2020, Air Georgian no longer provided services under the capacity purchase agreement. Those services were transferred back to Jazz Aviation. On 1 March 2021, it was also announced that Sky Regional Airlines would also no longer provide services under the capacity purchase agreement and therefore Jazz Aviation would become the sole operator of the express brand.

However, in May 2023, Air Canada signed a letter of intent with PAL Airlines for a five-year capacity purchase agreement. This deal involved the purchase of up to six Bombardier Q400s from Air Canada, which PAL Airlines would operate under the Air Canada Express brand in addition to their existing schedule and charter business. In the announcement, Air Canada described the prospective agreement with PAL Airlines as a "bridging arrangement" due to a need for additional regional capacity as a result of industry-wide pilot shortages. Service with PAL began in July 2023.

Destinations

Main article: List of Air Canada destinations#List of destinations served by Air Canada Express

{{anchor|Fleet}} Operators and fleet

Current fleet

, the Air Canada Express fleet consists of the following aircraft:

Historical fleet

The Air Canada Express brand, through its various regional and commuter airline partners, operated a variety of turbofan and twin turboprop aircraft over the years including the following types:

• Bombardier CRJ100
• Bombardier CRJ200
• Beechcraft 1900D
• De Havilland Canada Dash 8-100
• De Havilland Canada Dash 8-300

Incidents and accidents

• On 20 April 2016, Air Canada Express flight 7804 (EV7804), which was operated by an EVAS Air Beechcraft 1900D (C-FEVA), crashed upon landing at Gander International Airport. At the time of arrival, the weather conditions were described as ¨Heavy Snow¨ and the visibility at the airport was 1/8 Statute mile visibility. The flight, arriving from Goose Bay, touched down right of the runway centerline of runway 03, and immediately veered right. The nose gear of the aircraft struck a snow windrow and subsequently collapsed, causing 7 out of the 8 blades to separate from the engines. The right side of the fuselage was punctured by a propeller blade. Of the 14 occupants onboard, everyone survived, and 3 people sustained minor injuries.
• On 28 December 2024, a De Havilland Canada DHC-8-400 operating as Flight 2259 by PAL Airlines, had its left main landing gear collapse on landing at Halifax Stanfield International Airport. The wing also caught on fire, but all 77 people on board survived without serious injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged.

Notes

References

References

1. https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/about/corporate-profile.html#/home:
2. (26 April 2011). "Air Canada Launches New Regional Brand". [[Financial Post]].
3. "Air Canada Revises the Terms of its Capacity Purchase Agreement with Chorus Aviation for Regional Flying".
4. (30 May 2023). "PAL Airlines inches closer to deal to fly more routes under Air Canada Express brand". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
5. Villamizar, Helwing. (5 July 2023). "PAL Airlines' Inaugural Flight with Air Canada Completed". Airways Mag.
6. "Our Fleet".
7. {{TCregister. PAL+AIRLINES. PAL Airlines. 10 February 2025
8. (3 August 2012). "Bombardier CRJ Series".
9. (20 November 2025). "Air Canada Elevates the North American Travel Experience with a Comprehensive Fleet Upgrade".
10. {{TCregister. JAZZ+AVIATION+LP. Jazz Aviation. 2026-02-01
11. (20 November 2025). "Air Canada Elevates the North American Travel Experience with a Comprehensive Fleet Upgrade".
12. (2016-04-20). "Aviation Investigation Report A16A0041". Transportation Safety Board of Canada.
13. Ranter, Harro. "Accident Bombardier DHC-8-402Q Dash 8 C-GPNA, Saturday 28 December 2024".