Air Canada Upgrades its Q-400s with Free WiFi and New Seats

A World First: Free WiFi on Q-400 Aircraft

Starting October 2025, Air Canada will become the first airline in the world to offer free and fast WiFi on De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft. This innovation will begin on flights between Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport and Montreal or Ottawa, sponsored by Bell.

This gate-to-gate connectivity will allow business travellers, who represent the majority of passengers on these busy corridors, to maintain their productivity throughout the journey.

“Air Canada Express is at the heart of how we serve Canadian communities. It brings people together, whether connecting families across the country, or linking businesses to the world through our global network. This innovative project is an industry-first, and it reflects the pride we take in serving customers with care and class. By bringing many of the design details and comforts of our largest jets to the Canadian-made Dash 8-400, even our shortest flights can feel special,” said Mark Nasr, Executive Vice President & Chief Operations Officer at Air Canada.

New Ergonomic Seats by 2026

Twenty-five Dash 8-400 aircraft operated by Jazz Aviation will receive new Expliseat ergonomic seats by mid-2026. These well-padded seats will feature:

• Multi-functional support for tablets and phones
• Individual tray table
• New design reflecting Air Canada’s brand image
• Configuration maintained at 78 seats with unchanged spacing

Redesigned Cabins in Canadian Colours

The interiors of the 25 aircraft will be completely redesigned to align with the standards of Air Canada’s wide-body aircraft. The new design incorporates colours, textures, and tones inspired by Canadian nature, reinforcing the company’s status as a national carrier.

Deployment Schedule

The program will be rolled out in phases until 2026:

October 2025: Launch of free WiFi on Billy Bishop-Montreal/Ottawa flights Mid-2026: Full installation of new seats and redesigned interiors

Doug Clarke, President of Jazz Aviation, emphasizes that “this investment in innovative seating, refreshed cabin interiors, and industry-leading onboard Wi-Fi reflects our shared commitment to safety, operational excellence, and delivering exceptional customer service.”

Our Opinion

This modernization is part of Air Canada’s strategy to standardize the customer experience across its entire fleet. For frequent travellers, these improvements will make short flights more productive and comfortable.

Our advice: If you frequently travel between Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa, choose departures from Billy Bishop starting in October to take advantage of free WiFi. This connectivity will be especially valuable for business travellers with premium credit cards who earn points on their business trips.

The extension of WiFi to the rest of the Dash 8-400 fleet remains to be determined, as Air Canada has already equipped 97% of its mainline aircraft with next-generation connectivity systems.

Bottom Line

This Air Canada initiative marks an important step in the evolution of regional transport in Canada. By bringing wide-body amenities to regional aircraft, the company raises industry standards while strengthening its position on the country’s busiest business corridors.