Air Canada boosts Sydney-Vancouver business class on Boeing 777
By David Flynn, August 27 2015
Air Canada is giving a better ride to Vancouver-bound business travellers with the debut of its latest business class on fights from Sydney.
From 17 May 2016 the Canadian flag-carrier’s daily direct service between Sydney and Vancouver will feature an upgraded Boeing 777-200LR jet sporting the same business class as its flagship Boeing 787 fleet.
The pointy end of the plane will see 40 ‘Executive Pods’ – next generation lie-flat seats arranged in a 1-2-1 layout so that every passenger has direct access to the aisle.
The solo seats will be angled towards the window while the two centre seats are angled slightly towards each other.
Each seat extends extends to an 80 inch fully flat bed dressed with a 100% cotton duvet.
Creature comforts include an adjustable pneumatic cushion headrest, 18 inch personal entertainment screen and noise-cancelling headsets.
The refreshed jet will also debut Air Canada's premium economy onto the route, with 24 seats of 19.5 inches wide with a 38 inch pitch and 7 inch recline, plus an AC power outlet.
“This development comes just one month after we announced plans to launch non-stop Brisbane-Vancouver services in June 2016 using our new Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft” says Paul McLean, Air Canada’s General Manager for Australia and New Zealand.
Read: Air Canada to fly Brisbane-Vancouver with Boeing 787 from June 2016
“It means that not only is our network expanding out of Australia, but that from mid-2016 all of our passengers will experience our latest world-class on-board product.”
Also read: The best business class seats on Australia-US flights
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David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
20 Aug 2015
Total posts 2
Looks similar to Virgin Australia's new Business Class.
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
14 Jan 2014
Total posts 340
It's the same seat CX use
British Airways Executive Club Gold
25 Jun 2015
Total posts 20
I don't think it is the same seat as CX/AA etc.
From these photos it looks like the tray table slides out from underneath the screen (which looks like it is in a fixed position). The seating controls and the side table/console also are different to the CX seat.
It's definitely the same base seat design as what QR and VA use.
Lufthansa - Miles & More
29 Jul 2014
Total posts 181
It isn't either they design a different version but the base to my knowlage is the QR and AA seat.
British Airways Executive Club Gold
25 Jun 2015
Total posts 20
The QR and AA J seats are totally different designs. The only thing in common is that they are both reverse herringbone...
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
14 Jan 2014
Total posts 340
I believe Air Canada squeeze a total of 458 pax into their B77W - a full fifty more than Korean Air get into their A380!!
no thanks
05 Sep 2011
Total posts 65
Only a small number of Air Canada's 777-300ER aircraft have the ultra high density 458 seat layout, which includes a high desnity staggered business class. The rest of the -300ER fleet will be refurbished with the seating mentioned in this article, and feature a still rather horrible total of 400 seats. Meanwhile the -200LR aircraft flying to Sydney will have 300 seats.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
29 May 2013
Total posts 45
sadly, the inevitable has come: sardine-style (but industry-standard) 11-abreast YC seating to match their 777-300LRs. https://www.aircanada.com/en/about/fleet/77L.html looks like they've boosted the total capacity from 270 (777-200LR two-class) to 300, including 236 YC pax up from 228. interestingly the AC website states the new 200LR config has two business cabins + premium economy...
21 Jul 2012
Total posts 128
No, they're going to 10-abreast in Y. No one that I know of has 11-abreast on the 777. Also, it's the 777-300ER (not LR) of which only a few have 10-abreast Y at present, and those aren't used to Australia.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
29 May 2013
Total posts 45
Apologies - not sure how I came up with 11-abreast, indeed it is 10-abreast. I also accidentally typed 777-300LR (which doesn't exist).
However, the airlines I had in mind that do 10-abreast are Emirates & Etihad (both of which do fly to Australia with this configuration), and Air NZ (their 777-300ER & 777-200ER (new config) planes sport the 3-4-3 YC layout (not sure if the NZ flights from AKL-SYD sport the new high-density layout, though)).
With that all being said, I do recognise the primary focus of this article is the new AC JC product.... and what a great review! Thanks, David! Looking forward to giving it a go!
07 Aug 2012
Total posts 192
What isn't mentioned here is that AC will move to 3-4-3 in Y on all their 777s, including the 77L used to SYD. Seat pitch will also reduce from 32" to 31".
So while it's an improvement for J & Y+, Y is a downgrade.
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2563
Hi Madge - that's because AusBT's primary focus for international travel is on first, business and premium economy. While some business travellers do fly international economy, as a 'point of differentiation' that's not our focus.
07 Aug 2012
Total posts 192
Fair enough if that's your focus.
Though if that's the case I'm not sure why you posted an article last week "Qantas Boeing 787 will be three-class, likely 9-across in economy"?
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2563
Because that was an article on the overall Qantas 787-9 config (and there's a great amount of interest in the Qantas Boeing 787s on any score); and in a heading, which is limited by the number of words & characters, you can only stress key factors - and that was certainly a key one (eg the fact that it'll likely have the Business Suite is also something we have covered before)
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Apr 2012
Total posts 319
Is this in response to possibly QF going to Vancouver on the 747 recently?
21 Jul 2012
Total posts 128
The new seats are part of a general refurbishment of the long-haul fleet and not specific to the YVR-SYD service, although they may have prioritized that route given the new competition.
United Airlines - Mileage Plus
13 Mar 2015
Total posts 79
I have to say that I see a clearly “UNITEDSIZATION” of AC service. It’s is evident and sad seeing how their service went down rapidly, PE in AC is horrible not even close to QF or CX, no bubblies before departure, the bulkhead seats do not have foot rest, the food option is not that great. Business Class service is not consistent, amenity kit is poor, the wine and champagne offering is not that great… Always tell you sorry but is not cold, can you wait? Or, do you want ice on it?... really?? Out of 4 trips in J in AC all were like that!!! PE in AC cannot be compared to QF or CX…(I haven’t tried SQ yet but I heard good things) maybe compared to CZ (333, 77W has better seat but horrible service) or CA (tried on 748 with horrible service) … nothing really good. There are other better options for the same price… and rather have one more stop in LAX or SFO than fly direct from YVR to Asia/Pacific/Australia
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