Air Canada had its investor day convention at the moment. Whereas the corporate didn’t explicitly handle its new enterprise class, a few hints have been dropped, and I really feel like I can now not less than speculate as to what the brand new product might be (and once more, it’s purely hypothesis).
Air Canada plans new 777 & 787 enterprise class
For a while, Air Canada executives have been hinting that the airline would introduce a brand new enterprise class product. Virtually no particulars have been made out there, however the expectation is that some variety of present Boeing 777s and 787s will ultimately get new seats, along with newly delivered plane.
I’ve no inside data right here, however take into account that Air Canada has 18 Boeing 787-10s on order, that are purported to be delivered beginning in 2026. My expectation that these can be delivered with new cabins.
Air Canada has a stable lengthy haul enterprise class (marketed as Signature Class), which consists of Collins Aerospace Tremendous Diamond seats, in a reverse herringbone configuration.
Whereas it’s nonetheless a aggressive product, there’s no denying that enterprise class merchandise have developed a bit in recent times, particularly in relation to privateness and tech. So if an airline goes to take supply of recent jets within the coming years, it’s logical that they’d characteristic an up to date product.
I also needs to point out that Air Canada has 30 Airbus A321XLRs on order, which is a brand new lengthy vary, slender physique plane. After all these planes can even have completely different enterprise class seats given the constraints of slender physique jets. I think these will both be herringbone (like on JetBlue) or reverse herringbone (like on ITA Airways).
My guess about Air Canada’s new enterprise class
In its investor presentation, Air Canada didn’t explicitly reference a brand new enterprise class product. Nevertheless, the airline did emphasize a rise in premium seating with its upcoming Boeing 787-10s.
The airline shared footage of each the 787-9 and 787-10 seat maps, noting that the 787-10 may have 40% extra enterprise class seats, 33% extra premium economic system seats, 117% extra additional legroom economic system seats, and 11% extra capability general.
Now, you may not assume that the seat map would replicate Air Canada’s new enterprise class, however in case you zoom in, there’s a noteworthy element. You’ll see that the entrance row of enterprise class on the 787-10 reveals an enormous quantity of additional area, which isn’t depicted with the 787-9.
I’d guess that’s not an error, and that that is fairly deliberate (Air Canada is an airline stuffed with aviation geeks, and so they actually wouldn’t get a element like that improper). So whereas we’ll see how this performs out, that means to me that Air Canada is planning a “enterprise class plus,” as we’re seeing on an rising variety of airways.
The thought is that airways benefit from the additional area at a bulkhead to supply a particular product that they will promote at an additional price.
The seat map additionally means that Air Canada will preserve reverse herringbone seats, which actually wouldn’t shock me, and makes excellent sense. Air Canada has provided reverse herringbone seats on lengthy haul flights for a very long time, and is a fan of the product. So it is sensible that the up to date enterprise class would comply with an analogous sample.
This means that Air Canada could also be selecting one among a number of merchandise:
- There’s the identical Collins Aerospace Tremendous Diamond seat that Air Canada at the moment has, however with a door and up to date tech, such as you’ll discover in Etihad’s A350-1000 enterprise class
- The newest and biggest reverse herringbone seat is the Collins Aerospace Parts seat, which you’ll discover on Starlux’s A350-900
- The Safran Versa seat is another choice, and particularly, would make the “enterprise class plus” product straightforward, as that is what you’ll discover on Air France’s 777-300ERs
- The STELIA Opera seat is another choice, and would additionally make the additional area on the bulkhead straightforward, as that is what you’ll discover on Air France’s A350-900s
Since Air Canada at the moment works with Collins Aerospace, it could make sense that this partnership will proceed with the brand new seats. With that in thoughts, I’d guess that the airline will both choose an up to date Tremendous Diamond seat, or the Parts seat.
Now, I’m curious to what extent Tremendous Diamond seats might be retrofitted. Would it not be less expensive for Air Canada to pick the Tremendous Diamond seat after which add a door and enhance the tech, or at that time, is it as costly as simply introducing a brand new seat altogether?
Backside line
We all know that Air Canada is planning a brand new enterprise class product, however the airline hasn’t but revealed a lot about what to anticipate. The airline has simply dropped its greatest trace but, by revealing the seat map for the upcoming 787-10.
This means to me that Air Canada may have a particular enterprise class product within the first row of the cabin, and also will preserve reverse herringbone seats. My greatest guess is that Air Canada might introduce both an up to date Collins Aerospace Tremendous Diamond seat, or in any other case, will choose the Collins Aerospace Parts seat.
What are you anticipating from Air Canada’s new enterprise class?
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