‘Glowing Hearted’: Air Canada unveils all-new cabin design

Aviation management expert John Gradek weighs in on Air Canada unveiling its all-new cabin designs and whether it's enough to keep the airline competitive.

Air Canada has released details and renderings of an upcoming cabin design overhaul that will feature major upgrades including lie-flat seats on some aircraft.

The carrier’s new long-haul cabin designs were unveiled Tuesday at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Germany.

“The first major expression of its new Glowing Hearted standard, the design delivers a distinctly Canadian experience, emphasizing comfort, care, and connection for all customers on every flight, while signalling the airline’s bold growth ambitions,” Air Canada said in a release.

The upgraded cabins will debut on new Airbus A321XLR and Boeing 787-10 aircraft starting this summer, Air Canada says.

The airline says the cabins on the A321XLR will offer “a true lie-flat Air Canada Signature Class experience for the first time on a single-aisle aircraft.”

“The introduction of the new A321XLR will be a game changer, unlocking new trans-Atlantic routes and allowing Air Canada to offer an upgraded, premium journey across more of its North America transcontinental network,” Air Canada said.

The airline’s fleet of Boeing 787-10 aircraft will feature a new “Air Canada Signature Plus” suite at the front of the plane for travellers looking for extra space.

There are also suites located in the centre of the aircraft, which feature a fully retractable sliding privacy panel, accommodating up to four passengers travelling together, Air Canada said.

Canada’s flagship carrier says certain upgrades are also being implemented across all cabins in its fleet.

They include new ergonomic seats designed to maximize space, larger built-in screens with Bluetooth audio capabilities, access to high-powered outlets for every passenger, as well as extended privacy wings on certain aircraft.

“This investment is about fundamentally redefining the experience of flying with Air Canada,” Mark Nasr, the airline’s executive vice-president and chief operations officer, said in the release.

“Details matter: we listened closely to feedback and challenged ourselves to create an experience defined by a strong Canadian sense of place, alongside a commitment to craftsmanship, functionality, and long-term durability.”