Air Canada To Lay Off 80 Having Suspended Rouge Operations

Air Canada Rouge is pausing its flights across its entire network from February 8. The low-cost subsidiary of Air Canada specializes in cheap and cheerful flights down to the Caribbean and Mexico. However, with the Canadian Government asking Canadian airlines to halt flights there, Air Canada has taken the decision to suspend flights across its entire Rouge network.

Air Canada rouge to use A321s on trans-Atlantic routes

Air Canada rouge (RV, Toronto Pearson) will continue to serve "some" trans-Atlantic routes using its narrowbody Airbus aircraft even after the B767-300(ER)s are permanently retired, Chief Executive of parent Air Canada Calin Rovinescu said during an online fireside chat hosted by Aviation Week.

"rouge will become a narrowbody operator, focusing on leisure destinations in the Caribbean, the sunny states in the US, and eventually returning to transatlantic services with the Airbus A321, which is an aircraft that we like very much," Rovinescu said.

Air Canada announced in early May 2020 that it would retire all B767s as a part of its COVID-caused restructuring and fleet simplification. All twenty-five of its remaining units of the type are currently operated by rouge, which was launched as a lower-cost subsidiary for widebody operations in 2012. However, since then rouge has also expanded as a narrowbody carrier and currently operates twenty-two A319-100s, five A320-200s, and fourteen A321-200s.

Rovinescu clarified that while the decision to retire the B767s and convert rouge into an all-narrowbody operator has been made, it did not mean that the carrier will not operate any more B767 flights. Subject to the picking up of demand, it could restart widebody operations before the B767s are fully retired.

As of now, Air Canada does not have any A320neo Family aircraft in its fleet or on order. As such, rouge would have to deploy the A321-200s on trans-Atlantic routes, becoming one of the very few airlines to use previous generation narrowbodies on this market.

However, the carrier has reportedly been eyeing A321-200neo(LR) for its future growth. Air Canada recently reduced its outstanding firm order for B737-8s from thirty-seven to twenty-six units, which are due to join the twenty-four B737 MAX 8s already delivered to Air Canada.

ch aviation

Air Canada rouge S18 long-haul expansions

Air Canada rouge yesterday (28SEP17) announced long-haul expansion in summer 2018, including expanded service to Eastern Europe. Planned service as follow.


Montreal – Bucharest 07JUN18 – 04OCT18 2 weekly. Subject to Government Approval
AC1928 YUL1720 – 0915+1OTP 763 14
AC1929 OTP1130 – 1405YUL 763 25

Montreal – Lisbon 15JUN18 – 26OCT18 3 weekly (This sector was previously served Nov 1988 – Nov 1990)
AC1960 YUL2045 – 0810+1LIS 763 357
AC1961 LIS0945 – 1210YUL 763 146

Montreal – Lima eff 01MAY18 Service expands to year-round, 2 weekly
AC1942 YUL1725 – 0055+1LIM 763 26
AC1943 LIM0240 – 1200YUL 763 37

Toronto – Bucharest 09JUN18 – 06OCT18 2 weekly. Subject to Government Approval
AC1964 YYZ1650 – 0915+1OTP 763 26
AC1965 OTP1130 – 1445YYZ 763 37

Toronto – Porto 08JUN18 – 26OCT18 4 weekly
AC1958 YYZ2250 – 1050+1OPO 763 x246
AC1959 OPO1220 – 1520YYZ 763 x357

Toronto – Zagreb 02JUN18 – 06OCT18 4 weekly. Subject to Government Approval (Zagreb was previously served Mar 1990 – Oct 1991)
AC1968 YYZ1655 – 0730+1ZAG 763 x157
AC1969 ZAG0915 – 1240YYZ 763 x126
Operational period is based on Canada departure.

By Jim Liu - Routes Online

FPP - Lisboa

AIR CANADA ROUGE - B767-300ER - C-FJZK

FPP - Lisboa

Air Canda rouge launches Toronto-Gatwick route

The route will operate daily during the summer

Written by:Aaron Greenwood

The arrival of flight AC1924 at London Gatwick on Friday marked the successful launch of Air Canada rouge’s newest route.
Air Canada rouge.

The seasonal, non-stop service between Toronto and London Gatwick will operate daily during the summer and give Air Canada customers greater choice when travelling to London and Europe.

“London Heathrow is already Air Canada’s largest international gateway with flights to eight Canadian cities, so we are pleased to expand to London Gatwick in time for the summer, when millions of vacationers are travelling between Canada and the UK. With this new route, we become the only Canadian carrier serving the two largest airports in the London metropolitan region, which further solidifies our already market-leading position as the airline operating the most seats between Canada and UK,” said Benjamin Smith, president, Passenger Airlines at Air Canada.

Flights will be operated with an Air Canada rouge Boeing 767-300ER, featuring premium and economy cabins. The service commenced with six weekly flights going to daily service throughout the summer from June 1 to September 26, and then with reduced frequency until October 16.

Travel news

Air Canada rouge Debuts New Montreal – Venice Transatlantic Route

The new flight, operated by a 280-seat Boeing 767-300ER will fly on a twice weekly basis through to October 11, 2015, complementing the airline’s existing link to Venice from Toronto’s Lester B Pearson International Airport for summer 2015, meaning it now offers more seats between Canada and Venice during the peak summer season than any other airline.

Airlines Routes

Photo:Duncan Stewart - LAX

AIR CANADA ROUGE - A319-100 - C-GBHO

Duncan Stewart - LAX

AIR CANADA ROUGE - B767-300ER - C-GHPN

Duncan Stewart - LAX

AIR CANADA ROUGE - A319-100 - C-FYKW

Duncan Stewart - LAX

Air Canada rouge to enter Asian market in May 2015

Air Canada rouge is set to make its first foray into the Asian market when it launches a seasonal Vancouver Int'l to Osaka Kansai service in 2015.
The Air Canada subsidiary said in a statement that subject to regulatory approval, the 5x weekly flights will operate between May 1 and October 24, 2015 on-board a B767-300(ER).
Photo:PMB/FPP - Lisboa

AIR CANADA ROUGE - B767-300ER- C-FMWP

PedroMB/FPP - Lisboa

Air Canada rouge's Inaugural Flights Takeoff

Ready for takeoff! Air Canada rouge flight crew and customers celebrate with a ribbon cutting for the airline's …

MONTREAL , July 1, 2013 /CNW/ - Ready for takeoff! Air Canada rouge flight crew and customers celebrate with a ribbon cutting for the airline's very first European flight today from Montreal to Athens . Air Canada rouge offers non-stop flights twice a week using Boeing 767-300ER aircraft.

Image with caption: "Ready for takeoff! Air Canada rouge flight crew and customers celebrate with a ribbon cutting for the airline's very first European flight today from Montreal to Athens. Air Canada rouge offers non-stop flights twice a week using Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. (CNW Group/Air Canada rouge)".

Air Canada rouge’s first newly painted Boeing 767-300 ER aircraft

TORONTO, June 1, 2013 /CNW/ - Air Canada rouge's first newly painted Boeing 767-300 ER aircraft touched down this morning at Mirabel airport from Tel Aviv where it underwent an exterior transformation during a scheduled maintenance check. The plane was flown from Tel Aviv by Air Canada pilots Captain David Lywood, First Officer Kurtis Paproski and Captain John Liska.

After being stripped to its aluminum base, painters applied primer, two coats of white and finally used massive stencils to spray on the airline's distinct red and burgundy branding -- about 70 gallons of paint were used over nearly eight days to complete the painting. In order to maximize fuel efficiency by adding minimal weight, the least amount of paint possible is applied while achieving optimal coverage. Following a short period flying Toronto-Dublin for Air Canada in June, starting July 1 the B767-300 ER plane will fly Air Canada rouge's three European routes between Toronto and Venice/Athens/Edinburgh and Montreal/Athens.

The aircraft will now undergo minor interior modifications; Air Canada rouge's aircraft will be among the first in North America equipped to offer streaming inflight entertainment to customers' own devices (laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc).

It joins two Air Canada rouge A319 aircraft already at Mirabel airport, which will initially fly Caribbean routes and are also undergoing interior modifications to reflect the airline's relaxed, stylish approach to leisure travel. With this delivery Air Canada rouge now has 3 of its 4 startup aircraft, with the last painted B767-300ER arriving at Mirabel airport early next week. Air Canada rouge introduced its new inflight crew look earlier this week and also announced that its flight crews would be taking customer service excellence training at the Disney Institute in Orlando, Florida.

About Air Canada rouge

Air Canada rouge is Air Canada's new leisure airline, part of the new Air Canada Leisure Group, along with Air Canada Vacations. Air Canada rouge will operate a fleet of Boeing 767-300ER and Airbus 319 aircraft sporting an attractive new livery and interior, designed to reflect the airline's relaxed friendly ambience. Initially flights will operate from Toronto and Montreal to vacation spots in Europe and the Caribbean. Air Canada rouge is the only leisure airline that offers a full network of connecting flights, Aeroplan Miles with every flight as well as redemption, and Air Canada Vacations package holidays or flight-only options. With all of these customer benefits, Air Canada rouge will be leading the way in leisure travel. Vacation ahead with Air Canada rouge.

Air Canada Toronto-Dublin Flights to be Extended Year-round in 2014 with Introduction of Air Canada rouge Service

Emerald Isle becomes fourth European destination in Air Canada rouge network

MONTREAL, April 23, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada today announced that its current seasonal service between Toronto and Dublin, Ireland will be converted to year-round service operated by its new leisure carrier, Air Canada rouge, beginning in 2014. Air Canada will operate the route this year from May 17 through to September 30, 2013 and Air Canada rouge will commence year-round service starting May 1, 2014. Bookings on the new Air Canada rouge service will become available starting in June 2013 on aircanada.com and through travel agents.

"Air Canada has been serving Ireland since its predecessor, Trans-Canada Air Lines, first flew to Shannon in 1947. Today, there is a very strong market for both leisure customers and visiting friends and relatives, so this is an ideal market for our new leisure carrier, Air Canada rouge, to operate more cost effectively on a year-round basis," said Ben Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Air Canada. "This is the fourth European destination announced for Air Canada rouge, which will begin flying this July to Edinburgh, Venice and Athens in addition to a number of Caribbean destinations. We intend to grow Air Canada rouge quickly from four aircraft to 32 aircraft by the end of 2014 and 42 aircraft by the end of 2015."

Air Canada rouge's July 1 launch network also includes eleven destinations in the Caribbean. Its startup fleet consists of two Airbus A319 aircraft and two Boeing 767-300ER aircraft that will grow to ten aircraft by the end of 2013, 32 aircraft by the end of 2014 and 42 aircraft by the end of 2015.

Air Canada rouge's Boeing 767-300ER aircraft feature a two-cabin configuration with three customer comfort options including rouge, rouge Plus with preferred seating with additional legroom, and, beginning in winter 2013, Premium rouge offering both additional room and enhanced service. The airline's Airbus A319 aircraft are configured with rougeand rouge Plus preferred seating. All flights will offer customers streamed wireless inflight entertainment, stylish and modern cabin interiors with innovative new seats, and the ability to earn and redeem Aeroplan miles.
Air Canada