Historic fleet[edit]
Airbus A340-300, retired 2008
Air Canada Boeing 767-200ER, retired 2008
Air Canada Boeing 777-300ER on approach to Frankfurt Airport.
In 1963, Air Canada claimed to be the first major air carrier to have adopted turbine technology on its entire fleet for lower maintenance costs and higher productivity. It also claimed to be the first world airline to introduce jet freighter service using DC-8 equipment.[16][88]
Air Canada was also one of the first airlines to have its entire fleet of unpressurised aircraft equipped with fixed oxygen systems for use by flight crew and passengers, using the rebreathing bag principle.
Air Canada's McDonnell Douglas DC-9-15's were used up to 1986 one McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32CF was used for cargo flights until 1977. the McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32's were used from 1967 to 2002.
Air Canada's Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) aircraft were used from the mid 1990s until the early 2000s when they were transferred to regional affiliate Jazz Air LP operating as Air Canada Jazz. The Bombardier Mirabel-produced CRJ revolutionized non-stop high frequency services between lower volume business destinations in Air Canada's network, particularly in the northeast USA.
Air Canada's Airbus A340-500s were retired in August 2007 and replaced by Boeing 777-200LRs.[89]
Air Canada's Airbus A340-300s were retired in November 2008 and replaced by Boeing 777-300ERs.[90]
Air Canada's Boeing 767-200ER fleet was retired from service by the end of 2008.
The Boeing 767 involved in the Gimli incident (known as the "Gimli Glider") remained in service with Air Canada until it retired in 2008. The aircraft (C-GAUN) now sits at the Mojave Spaceport in California.[91]
The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 aircraft were operated from 1979-2000 by Canadian Pacific Airlines and its successor Canadian Airlines.
The Boeing 737-200 aircraft were operated from 1968-2000 by Canadian Pacific Airlines and its successor Canadian Airlines. Subsequent to the merger with Canadian Airlines, Air Canada operated these aircraft in a mainline 2-class configuration, as well as with the Air Canada Tango and the Zip low cost carriers branding in an all-economy class configuration.