Air Canada placed an order for eight Airbus A350-1000, and the new planes are expected to arrive at the start of 2030. This decision is long-term and will not have immediate action. Air Canada hasn’t shared how many seats there will be in the aircraft, but they mentioned that they will include a new cabin design that the airline is planning to introduce soon.
The A350-1000 is a large aircraft that is used for long international routes, and it is built in such a way that it can fly very far without stopping. Airlines usually choose this type of aircraft when they want better fuel efficiency and lower operating costs as compared to older models.
This order is also interesting because Air Canada hasn’t ordered Airbus widebody aircraft in many years. It relied heavily on Boeing for its larger planes in the past, and there had even been talk that the airline might choose Boeing’s 777X aircraft for its next upgrade. However, the 777X programme has faced delays, and that may have played a role in the final decision.
Air Canada is already in the middle of updating its fleet, and it is expecting deliveries of Airbus A321XLR and Boeing 787-10 aircraft soon. It also has smaller planes like the A220 and on order, some of which will operate under Air Canada Rouge.
The airline has also stated that the A350-1000 uses engines of Rolls-Royce, and it burns significantly less fuel than older widebody aircraft. This is important because fuel is one of the highest costs for airlines. Air Canada is planning ahead for long-haul travel growth but is doing it carefully with newer and more efficient aircraft instead of rushing into uncertain programmes.