Air Canada has transferred the first of 45 Boeing 737-8s to its subsidiary, Air Canada Rouge, in exchange for Rouge’s Airbus A321 fleet. Air Canada aims to have all 45 jets transferred by the end of this year in order to standardise the Rouge fleet with more fuel-efficient, modern aircraft.
Air Canada Rouge
Air Canada Rouge is a low-cost subsidiary of the Canadian flag carrier, Air Canada. It was founded in 2012 to service leisure destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and Europe.
It generally features tighter seating with less legroom compared to regular Air Canada, although a “Premium Rouge” cabin is available with more space. It also features a “bring your own device” (BYOD) in-flight entertainment system, where passengers can stream movies and TV shows to their own tablets or phones via Wi-Fi.
The transferred 737 MAX aircraft will feature 12 Business Class seats, 18 Premium Economy seats, and 147 Standard Economy seats. Rouge’s older Airbus A320s and A321s are also undergoing cabin upgrades before joining the Air Canada main fleet.
New Boeing 737-8 Aircraft
Starting in 2025-2026, the fleet is transitioning to Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, which include in-seat entertainment screens and free Wi-Fi for Aeroplan members. By the end of 2026, Air Canada will have transferred all of its Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft to its budget subsidiary, Air Canada Rouge, while moving Rouge’s older Airbus A320/A321 fleet to the mainline.
The swap aims to improve efficiency, allowing Rouge to operate a more fuel-efficient, standardised fleet for leisure routes while mainline focuses on premium, high-density and long-haul markets.
The 737 MAX 8 is roughly 20% cheaper to operate than the older Airbus planes, helping Rouge reduce costs and offer more competitive fares. It is also more fuel-efficient, which makes it ideal for Rouge, which will become an all-Boeing operator.
Have you ever flown with Air Canada Rouge? If so, tell us about your experience in the comments!
