Air Canada's new A330s feature exceptionally comfortable seats, a roomy cabin and leading-edge Sony Passport entertainment systems. The A330 uses 28 per cent less fuel per seat than its predecessors, making it more cost efficient and environment-friendly. This is important to our customers and our shareholders because it means lower costs to introduce, operate and maintain our fleet. It also allows us to better match the right aircraft with market demand, particularly during seasonal fluctuations, while providing more of the non-stop services that travellers value.
Commonality means that the similarity between aircraft types results in lower costs.
The commonality between the A330 and A340 extends to spare parts and flight simulator, resulting in economies of scale and a lower capital cost for the aircraft introduction. Air Canada's fleet modernization program gives it one of the youngest fleets in the world, with an average age of less than eight years. Air Canada was the first airline in Canada to operate the Airbus A320 when it took delivery of its first Airbus aircraft in January 1990. In 1995, Air Canada took delivery of its first A340, the mainstay of the airline's transpacific routes. 17 Boeing DC-9s and 25 Canadair Regional Jets.