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Air Canada (AC) Guide

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A practical guide to Air Canada: the network from YYZ, the Airbus A220-300 and the rest of the fleet, luggage rules, check-in and cheaper fares. Ask a question
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In short

Air Canada is the flag carrier and largest airline of Canada, headquartered in Montreal with hubs in Toronto Pearson, Montreal and Vancouver. It flies to 200+ destinations in Canada, the USA, Europe, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean and Oceania. A Star Alliance founding member, it runs Aeroplan. Cabins range from Economy and Premium Economy to Business and Signature Class.

Air Canada is the flag carrier and largest airline of Canada, founded in 1937 as Trans-Canada Air Lines and headquartered in Montreal. A founding member of Star Alliance, it serves more than 200 destinations on six continents with its regional partners.

Please note: bookingMentor is an independent travel service and is not affiliated with Air Canada. Routes, schedules, fleet and baggage rules change, so always confirm the details of your booking with the airline.

What to expect

Air Canada (IATA: AC, ICAO: ACA) is the flag carrier and largest airline of Canada, headquartered in Saint-Laurent, Montreal. It flies from hubs at Toronto Pearson, Montréal–Trudeau and Vancouver to more than 200 destinations across Canada, the United States, Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and suits travellers who want a single airline for domestic Canadian trips and long-haul connections.

From Trans-Canada Air Lines

The airline began as Trans-Canada Air Lines, created by federal legislation in 1937. It became Air Canada on 1 January 1965 and was privatised in 1988 and 1989. In 2000 it took over Canadian Airlines. Air Canada was a founding member of Star Alliance in 1997.

Three hubs, three roles

Toronto Pearson is the largest hub and handles connections to every region. Montréal–Trudeau is the main gateway to France and Europe, and Vancouver is the gateway to Asia and the Pacific. Calgary, Halifax and Ottawa are focus cities. Air Canada carried 45.3 million passengers in the first nine months of 2025 alone.

The Air Canada family

Several brands fly under the Air Canada name. Air Canada Rouge is the leisure airline. Air Canada Express is the brand for regional flights. Air Canada Cargo carries freight, Air Canada Jetz flies charters, and Air Canada Vacations sells packages to more than 90 destinations.

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Good to know

  • Founded1937
  • Other gatewaysYUL / YVR

Everything you should know

Airline codes

AC · ACA

IATA · ICAO · callsign “AIR CANADA”

Look for AC in front of the number on your ticket: that prefix marks a flight sold under the Air Canada code. Enter AC and the number to follow an Air Canada departure.

Key facts

Main hub

Toronto (YYZ)

Toronto Pearson

Also flies abroad fromMontréal–Trudeau (YUL) · Vancouver (YVR)

Network

200+ destinations

Canada · USA · Europe · Asia · Latin America · Caribbean · Oceania

Air Canada’s hubs are Toronto Pearson (main global hub), Montréal–Trudeau (gateway to France and Europe) and Vancouver (gateway to Asia-Pacific).

Destinations

Cabin classes

Signature

and Premium Economy, Business, Economy

Wide-bodies offer Signature Class, Premium Economy and Economy; most domestic and short routes have Business and Economy. Air Canada Signature Class is the international business class on wide-body aircraft, rebranded under that name in April 2018. Premium Economy is a separate cabin on most wide-bodies. Domestic and short-haul flights have business class and economy.

Compare cabins

Good to know

Air Canada’s loyalty programme is Aeroplan. Regional flights are sold as Air Canada Express, and leisure flights as Air Canada Rouge. The airline’s site, aircanada.com, handles bookings and check-in.

Frequent flyer

Aeroplan

Member of Star Alliance

Air Canada belongs to Star Alliance, so miles from AC flights can usually go into a partner scheme in the alliance as well as Aeroplan.

How it works

Start a new search

bookingMentor lists AC fares beside the other carriers on the same route, which shows quickly whether Air Canada is the cheaper way to reach Frankfurt.

Bon voyage on your next Air Canada flight.

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At a glance

Air Canada (IATA: AC, ICAO: ACA) is the flag carrier and largest airline of Canada, headquartered in Montreal. Founded in 1937 and a Star Alliance founding member, it flies Airbus A220, A320-family, A330 and Boeing 737 MAX, 777 and 787 aircraft from hubs in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver to more than 200 destinations.

Key facts about Air Canada
HeadquartersSaint-Laurent, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Fleet typesAirbus A220, A320, A321, A321XLR, A330, Boeing 737 MAX 8, 777 and 787
Frequent flyerAeroplan
Official websiteaircanada.com

Flight routes

Destinations and routes

Direct routes
Air Canada serves the places below according to its published network. Routes are added, paused and rescheduled, so confirm the current Air Canada timetable when you search. Search flights

Canada

Toronto (YYZ) departures10 destinations

Check all

Fleet and aircraft

The mainline fleet mixes Airbus A220-300s, A320s and A321s, Boeing 737 MAX 8s, Airbus A330-300s and Boeing 777 and 787 wide-bodies. Air Canada ordered 26 Airbus A321XLRs in March 2022 and 18 Boeing 787-10s in September 2023.

  • Airbus A220-300 Narrow-body · 47 in service Domestic and transborder routes
  • Airbus A320 Narrow-body Domestic, US and sun routes
  • Airbus A321 Narrow-body Domestic, US and sun routes
  • Airbus A321XLR Narrow-body · 6 in service Transatlantic and longer routes
  • Boeing 737 MAX 8 Narrow-body · 35 in service Sun destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean, plus US and domestic flights
  • Airbus A330-300 Wide-body · 20 in service Transatlantic routes
  • Boeing 777-200LR Wide-body Long-haul routes
  • Boeing 777-300ER Wide-body Long-haul routes
  • Boeing 787-8 Wide-body Long-haul routes
  • Boeing 787-9 Wide-body Long-haul routes

Cabin classes

Four cabins are on sale at Air Canada: Signature Class, Premium Economy, Business and Economy. Not every Air Canada route has all of them.

Signature Class Wide-body long-haul

Lie-flat business

Air Canada’s international business class on wide-body aircraft.

Lie-flat seatLounge accessPriority services

Premium Economy Wide-bodies

More space than economy

A separate cabin on most wide-body aircraft.

Wider seatMore legroom

Business Domestic & short-haul

North American business

Business class on most domestic and short-haul routes.

Larger seatPriority boarding

Economy All flights

Standard seat

The main cabin, with on-demand entertainment on mainline aircraft.

Seat-back entertainment on mainline aircraft

Aeroplan

Aeroplan is Air Canada’s frequent flyer scheme, and you can sign up on aircanada.com.

Aeroplan members earn points on Air Canada and Star Alliance flights and with many partners, and redeem them for flights and upgrades. Status tiers add priority services and lounge access.

Aeroplan is Air Canada's loyalty programme. Air Canada bought it back from Aimia in January 2019. Members earn points on Air Canada and Star Alliance flights and with other partners.

Baggage allowance

On Air Canada, the bag allowance follows your fare type, cabin and route, and the exact figure is printed on your AC e-ticket.

Checked baggage
On your e-ticket
Cabin baggage
Set by your fare
Extra bags
Add online before you fly
Power banks
Cabin bag only

Air Canada sets the number of free checked bags by fare and route, and its baggage calculator shows the figure for your booking. Each checked bag can weigh up to 23 kg (50 lb) and measure up to 158 cm (62 in) in total, wheels and handles included.

Every checked bag must stay within 23 kg (50 lb) and 158 cm (62 in) in total length, width and height, including wheels and handles. Star Alliance Gold members get one extra bag. Bags over 32 kg, longer than 203 cm or larger than 292 cm in total must travel as Air Canada Cargo. On trips that start or end in Canada or the US, the airline running the first flight sets the baggage rules for the whole journey.

Pro tip: on a trip that starts or ends in Canada or the US with several airlines, the airline flying the first segment sets the bag rules for the whole journey.
Travel day

Online Check-in

The four steps below take you from your Air Canada booking to the gate, whether you depart from YYZ or another airport on its network.

  1. Step 1

    Check in online

    Use aircanada.com to check in for eligible flights. Have your Air Canada booking reference or e-ticket number and your surname ready.

    Booking ref + surname
  2. Step 2

    Prepare your documents

    Before leaving for the airport, check that your passport is valid and that you hold any visa or entry document needed at the other end of your Air Canada flight. Domestic AC passengers should bring a photo ID the airline accepts.

    Passport · visa · ID
  3. Step 3

    Arrive early

    Each airport has its own Air Canada check-in and bag-drop deadline, listed in your booking. Allow extra time for busy terminals and international AC departures.

    Check your deadline
  4. Step 4

    Drop your bags

    Hand in checked luggage at the Air Canada counter or bag drop, then keep your boarding pass and passport ready for security and the gate.

    Air Canada counter
Ready to check in? Check in and manage your booking on the official Air Canada website.
Check in with Air Canada
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Cheap tickets

How to find a cheaper Air Canada fare without giving up the bag or seat you need.

  1. 01

    Try midweek AC flights

    If your dates can move, look at AC flights across the whole week. Midweek seats are often cheaper than weekend ones.

    Midweek flights
  2. 02

    Avoid peak holiday dates

    Fares rise around Christmas, March break and the summer holidays, especially to sun destinations and Europe. Book early for those dates.

    School holidays · festivals
  3. 03

    Price the bundle, not the base fare

    An Air Canada fare that includes a checked bag, seat choice or cheaper changes can cost less overall than adding those extras later.

    Baggage & changes
  4. 04

    Plan popular routes ahead

    Popular Air Canada flights fill the cheaper fares first, so give yourself several weeks of lead time on busy routes.

    Popular routes
  5. 05

    Join Aeroplan

    Add an Aeroplan number to your booking so points from your AC flights are credited.

    Before you fly

  6. Ready to compare fares?

    Search Air Canada alongside every other airline on your route, with flexible dates.

    Search Air Canada flights

Reviews and questions

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Everything travellers ask before flying Air Canada.
Answers checked against Air Canada’s official website and published airline records. Reviewed 10 October 2026.

General

Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance, created in 1997. Aeroplan members can earn and redeem points on Star Alliance partners, and members of other Star Alliance programmes can usually earn miles on Air Canada flights.