Air Canada Rolls Out Elevated DHC Dash 8-400 Regional Flying Experience
- Joe Breitfeller
- Sep 17
- 3 min read
Air Canada has today announced the rollout of an elevated regional flying experience with reimagined De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 amenities, offering new standards of comfort.
On Wednesday (September 17, 2025), Air Canada announced the start of a major upgrade program for their regional fleet. Under the initiative, 25 De Havilland Canada (DHC) Dash 8-400 aircraft operated for Air Canada Express by Jazz Aviation LP will undergo a full cabin refresh with new seating, new interiors, and Fast, Free Wi-Fi on select aircraft departing Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. Jazz is Air Canada’s largest regional partner and operator of Air Canada Express service to Toronto City (YTZ) and over 70 other destinations across Canada and the U.S.
In Wednesday’s announcement, Air Canada’s EVP & Chief Operations Officer, Mark Nasr, said,
“Air Canada Express is at the heart of how we serve Canadian communities. It brings people together, whether connecting families across the country, or linking businesses to the world through our global network. This innovative project is an industry-first, and it reflects the pride we take in serving customers with care and class. By bringing many of the design details and comforts of our largest jets to the Canadian-made Dash 8-400, even our shortest flights can feel
Special.”
Also commenting on the start of the DHC Dash 8-400 cabin refresh program, Jazz’s President, Doug Clarke, added,
“We’re pleased to partner with Air Canada on these exciting upgrades to our Dash 8-400 fleet. This investment in innovative seating, refreshed cabin interiors, and industry-leading onboard Wi-Fi reflects our shared commitment to safety, operational excellence, and delivering exceptional customer service.”
Air Canada’s refurbishment of the Jazz DHC Dash 8-400 fleet will occur in phases through 2026. Starting in October 2025, Air Canada will be the first airline to offer Fast, Free Wi-Fi to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport travelers. This means that customers will now have gate-to-gate connectivity when traveling between the city airport, Montréal and Ottawa, marking the first time Wi-Fi will be available on a De Havilland Dash 8-400 anywhere in the world. Additionally, customers traveling from Billy Bishop will now enjoy other amenities, including complimentary premium snacks, beer and wine, and exclusive access for eligible customers to the Aspire Air Canada Café.
The 25 refreshed Air Canada Express Dash 8-400s will be equipped with 78 next generation, well-padded, ergonomic seats from Expliseat, featuring newly branded seat dress covers. All seats will also include a seatback multi-use device holder, as well as a table tray. The installation of the new seats is scheduled to be completed by mid-2026. Additionally, the cabins will be upgraded to a new standard, reflecting Air Canada’s mainline aircraft. The interior design incorporates colors, textures and tones found in nature in Canada, reinforcing Air Canada’s pride in being the nation’s flag carrier.
The Reimagined Air Canada Express Dash 8-400s will be equipped with 78 next generation, well-padded, ergonomic seats from Expliseat
Jazz Aviation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Chorus Aviation Inc., operates flights on behalf of Air Canada under the Air Canada Express brand. Air Canada Express connects local communities across Canada and supports the growth of Air Canada’s international network by providing valuable feed to Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge routes.
Source: Air Canada
