Air Canada (Montreal) and Jazz Aviation (Air Canada Express) (Halifax) on February 1 introduced the Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) to western Canada. The type was introduced on Air Canada Express flights AC 8371 from Calgary to Fort McMurray, AC 8430 from Calgary to Regina and AC 8586 from Calgary to Saskatoon. Concurrent with rolling out new, state-of-the-art Bombardier Q400 Next Generation aircraft in these markets, Air Canada announced it is boosting capacity on key regional routes this spring and summer in response to demand.
“We are delighted to introduce the newest, ultra-quiet regional aircraft for customers in Alberta and Saskatchewan,” said Marcel Forget, Air Canada’s Vice President, Network Planning. “This spring, Air Canada will strategically increase capacity by either scheduling larger aircraft or adding flights to meet strong demand in Western Canada and we will continue to roll out the Q400 aircraft on additional routes in BC, Alberta and the Northwest Territories in the coming months. Air Canada Express flights are scheduled to enable convenient, point-to-point, same-day business travel, as well as convenient and easy connections to Air Canada’s extensive domestic, US and international network at Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver.”
Increased capacity this spring and summer compared to last year include the following routes:
| Route | Effective | 2012 daily seat capacity |
2013 daily seat capacity |
% seat increase |
| Calgary-Fort McMurray | now | 375 | 444 | 18% |
| Calgary-Regina | now | 200 | 272 | 36% |
| Calgary-Grande Prairie | March 2013 | 200 | 248 | 24% |
| Calgary-Victoria | March 2013 | 200 | 222 | 11% |
| Calgary-Yellowknife | April 2013 | 100 | 124 | 24% |
| Calgary-Edmonton | March 2013 | 837 | 870 | 4% |
| Calgary-Portland, OR | July 2013 | 50 | 100 | 100% |
| Edmonton-Yellowknife | April 2013 | 50 | 74 | 48% |
| Edmonton-Regina | now | 50 | 100 | 100% |
| Edmonton-Saskatoon | now | 50 | 100 | 100% |
| Edmonton-Fort McMurray | March 2013 | 300 | 370 | 23% |
| Edmonton-Grande Prairie | May 2013 | 250 | 274 | 10% |
| Vancouver-Fort McMurray | May 2013 | 50 | 100 | 100% |
| Vancouver-Fort St. John | May 2013 | 250 | 298 | 19% |
| Vancouver-Prince George | May 2013 | 300 | 370 | 23% |
| Vancouver-Smithers | May 2013 | 100 | 150 | 50% |
| Vancouver-Terrace | July 2013 | 200 | 250 | 25% |
| Vancouver-Penticton | May 2013 | 150 | 200 | 33% |
| Toronto-Fort McMurray | May 2013 | 292 | 363 | 24% |
Following to the launch of the Q400 aircraft in Calgary, Fort McMurray, Regina and Saskatoon, the aircraft, featuring all-leather seats, spacious overhead bins and comfortable 31-inch legroom, is scheduled to be deployed in the coming months on the following routes:
| Calgary-Grande-Prairie | March 2013 |
| Calgary-Victoria | March 2013 |
| Calgary-Edmonton | March 2013 |
| Calgary-Yellowknife | April 2013 |
| Edmonton-Fort McMurray | March 2013 |
| Edmonton-Grande Prairie | May 2013 |
| Edmonton-Yellowknife | April 2013 |
| Vancouver-Prince George | May 2013 |
| Vancouver-Fort St. John | May 2013 |
The Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) NextGen aircraft with 74 seats replaces 50-seat CRJ100/200ER aircraft, and are operated by Jazz Aviation LP under the Air Canada Express brand.
Copyright Photo: Keith Burton. Jazz Aviation’s Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) C-GGMZ (msn 4399) prepares to land at the Toronto (Pearson) hub.
Air Canada Express-Jazz Aviation: 
Routes flown by Jazz Aviation for Air Canada as an Air Canada Express carrier:
Please click on the map for the full-size view.