Boeing 767 to Rejoin Air Canada’s Passenger Fleet

Canada's largest airline plans on bringing back two retired passenger Boeing 767-300ERs.

An Air Canada Boeing 767-300ER landing in Las Vegas (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

[ Planes ]November 4, 2024 10:03 am ET

By Andrew Chen

The Boeing 767-300ER will rejoin Air Canada’s passenger fleet after being retired during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a presentation to investors last week, the airline revealed that it is planning on bringing back two airframes in 2025.

Air Canada retired the Boeing 767-300ER from passenger service in 2020 amidst the global pandemic. In response to growing cargo demand, the carrier converted a few of its aircraft to freighters to equip its new Air Canada Cargo fleet.

In response to increased travel demand, Air Canada has been ambitiously acquiring both new and used aircraft. In 2024, the airline took delivery of used Airbus A320, A321, and A330 aircraft, as well as new Boeing 737 MAXs, 787s, and A220s.

The company’s latest move to bolster capacity involves bringing back two retired Boeing 767s. The aircraft in question appear to be registered as C-FOCA and C-GLCA. Both aircraft had been stored at Pinal Airpark in Marana, Ariz. until they were ferried to John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport earlier this year.

During a third-quarter earnings call, company leadership called the move “temporary insurance’ in the airline’s short-term fleet plan. “These are two older 767s that used to be part of our passenger mainline fleet,” said Mark Galardo, Air Canada’s executive vice president of revenue and network planning.

“There’s still some life on them…,” Galardo added. He noted that there’s no plan to keep the over 30-year-old aircraft around for the long term.

On board an Air Canada Boeing 767-300ER in 2014 (AirlineGeeks | Andrew Chen)

The two aircraft now seem to be undergoing maintenance at KF Aerospace’s facility in Hamilton. When they were retired in 2020, the aircraft were configured with 211 seats with 24 lie-flat business class seats and 187 economy class seats.

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Andrew Chen

Andrew is a lifelong lover of aviation and travel. He has flown all over the world and is fascinated by the workings of the air travel industry. As a private pilot and glider pilot who has worked with airlines, airports and other industry stakeholders, he is always excited to share his passion for aviation with others. In addition to being a writer, he also hosts Flying Smarter, an educational travel podcast that explores the complex world of air travel to help listeners become better-informed and savvier travelers.

Author

Andrew Chen

Andrew is a lifelong lover of aviation and travel. He has flown all over the world and is fascinated by the workings of the air travel industry. As a private pilot and glider pilot who has worked with airlines, airports and other industry stakeholders, he is always excited to share his passion for aviation with others. In addition to being a writer, he also hosts Flying Smarter, an educational travel podcast that explores the complex world of air travel to help listeners become better-informed and savvier travelers.
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