Air Canada unveils all new seating featuring industry-leading lie flat suites

Air Canada today unveiled all-new seating to be made available across its entire fleet, featuring an industry-leading lie flat seat for its international Executive First customers. In addition, Air Canada is outfitting its Executive Class cabins on North American routes with new premium seats, and all of its Hospitality cabins fleet-wide will be reconfigured with new seats offering personal seat back entertainment systems with an increased choice of audio and video programming.

"The new seating unveiled today represents an important component of our investment in a vastly superior in-flight environment and product for all our customers," said Montie Brewer, Air Canada's President and CEO. "An extensive refurbishment program beginning next spring will replace every seat in the existing fleet with the newest, most comfortable passenger seating available, including personal seat back entertainment, and a brand new look for the interior cabin. These changes to our existing fleet taking place at the same time as we introduce new, efficient and ultra-modern aircraft to our fleet will result in a level of choice and comfort that sets a new standard for air travel."

New Executive First lie flat seat on international routes

Air Canada's new Executive First seat will provide international customers with luxurious first class comfort and service for a business class price. The key feature will be the introduction in spring 2006 of a revolutionary lie-flat seat designed and manufactured by Contour Premium Aircraft Seating.

The comfortable armchair and ottoman will transform into a truly lie-flat bed measuring six feet three inches (191 cm) long and up to 31 inches (79 cm) wide at the shoulders.

Other features of Air Canada's new Executive First suite of amenities will include:

- Individual suites separated by 43 inch (109 cm) high privacy screens.
- Direct aisle access for all passengers made possible by a unique herringbone layout.
- Seat transforms to horizontal bed with electronically adjustable pillow.
- Spacious seat with lumbar support and massage feature.
- Oversized tray table for dining and working.
- In-seat personal video and audio entertainment system.
- In-seat power for portable electronic devices.
- Multiple storage areas, including under footstool with 1550 cubic inches (3937 cubic cm), in addition to overhead bin.

New Executive Class seating on North American routes

With the delivery of Air Canada's new Embraer 175 aircraft in summer 2005, Embraer 190 aircraft to begin in November 2005, and Air Canada Jazz CRJ-705 aircraft, Air Canada is introducing a new standard of premium class comfort in North America that will be offered in all Executive Class cabins across its entire North America fleet.

Starting in spring 2006, the Executive Class cabins in the rest of Air Canada's North America fleet, comprising Airbus A319, A320, A321 and Boeing 767-200 aircraft, will be outfitted with industry-leading first class seating designed and manufactured by B/E Aerospace. 

Features of Air Canada's new Executive Class seating in North America include:

- Generous legroom with 38 inch (96.5 cm) seat pitch.
- Enhanced seat comfort.
- Aisle or window seating with no middle seat.
- Personal in-seat video and audio entertainment system.
- In-seat power for portable electronic devices.
- Adjustable head and foot rests.
- Oversized tray table for dining and working, plus large cocktail trays.

New Hospitality Class seating network wide

Along with the introduction of personal seat back entertainment systems at every Hospitality seat fleet wide, Air Canada is also enhancing seating comfort for all its Hospitality service customers on all routes. The new Hospitality seats, part of the carrier's fleet wide refurbishment program, are designed and manufactured by B/E Aerospace. Executive Class and Hospitality cabin seats in Air Canada's Embraer aircraft, currently in operation, are designed and manufactured by C & D Aerospace. 

Features of Air Canada's new Hospitality seating include:

- Enhanced seat comfort.
- In-seat personal video and audio entertainment system.
- In-seat power for video and electronic devices at arm's length.
- Adjustable head and foot rests on Airbus and Boeing wide-body aircraft.

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