Rise Air takes delivery of its first ATR 72-600

Rise Air has just welcomed the first ATR 72-600 in Canada, marking a bold step toward modern, reliable air travel for Saskatchewan’s communities and the workforce that powers its economy.

Rise Air employs over 280 personnel in locations ranging from Saskatoon to Fond-du-Lac, serving the north and working and living alongside our valued customers and community partners. With a varied and ever-expanding fleet of fixed-wing aircraft, including wheels, floats, and skis, Rise Air is the only air operator in Saskatchewan with the capability of moving people and goods to and from virtually any location in the province and beyond. By taking advantage of the efficiencies unique to our broad spectrum of expertise and experience, Rise Air continues to offer high-quality tailored aviation solutions, which serve, support, and promote the growth and success of Saskatchewan.

Scheduled commercial flights, with larger aircraft equipped with washrooms and flight attendants, serve the communities of Saskatoon, Prince Albert, La Ronge, Stony Rapids, Fond-du-Lac, Uranium City and Wollaston Lake. Rise Air also has decades of experience providing contract charter flights, including mine personnel shift changes and provincial court party transportation. Numerous accredited maintenance bases across the province means that MEDEVAC transportation, corporate and charter travel, and freight hauling are just a few of the many services Rise Air can provide safely, efficiently, and reliably, 365 days a year.

Rise Air is a 100 per cent Indigenous-owned company. We work hard to deliver long-term value to our shareholders — the First Nation communities who share ownership of Rise Air through Athabasca Basin Development (ABD) and Prince Albert Development Corporation (PADC). Shareholder Benefits Our profits are re-invested into the communities we serve through payments made to ABD and PADC.

Route Map:

The ATR 72-600 will join a diverse fleet including ATR 42s.

American Airlines announces winter lounge menu updates and new culinary active stations for the new year

American Airlines is ushering in the new year with exciting culinary updates across its premium lounges. Travelers can now enjoy refreshed winter menus in lounges, followed by new experiential offerings in select Admirals Club^® lounge locations nationwide starting January 2026.

Seasonal menus in Flagship and premium lounges

The below chef‑crafted winter plates provide just a sampling of the refreshed menus and showcase seasonal produce, warm spices and inviting flavors. From sweet to savory, these highlights offer a taste of what’s new, with additional dishes available across the lounge network.

Los Angeles (LAX) Flagship^® lounge:

Apricot and ginger pork loin with baby spinach, kale and micro cilantro
Cinnamon matcha pancakes with mandarin orange syrup, raspberries and mint
Grapefruit and fennel goat cheese salad with baby arugula, heirloom radish, farro, glazed pecans, sultanas, mint and white balsamic grapefruit vinaigrette

Chicago (ORD) Flagship^® lounge:

Curried artichoke orange salad with shave fennel, mint and curry vinaigrette
Honey mascarpone and fig parfait with roasted pistachios and almonds
Coconut lemongrass salmon with fried eggplant and chickpeas

Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) Flagship^®lounge:

Beef bulgogi and poached egg with sticky rice, butternut squash, kimchi, sauteed mushrooms, garlic chili oil, seaweed flakes, scallions and toasted sesame
Mediterranean couscous salad with mixed olives, baby artichokes, red onions, feta and lemon oregano dressing
Beet and farro salad with goat cheese and vinaigrette

Above: Mediterranean couscous salad (DFW)

Philadelphia (PHL) Flagship^® lounge:

Farro and squash salad with butternut squash, imported farro, pomegranate arils and citrus vinaigrette
Mini pretzels with Dijon mustard and Yards beer cheese sauce
Custom pho bar with pho broth, tofu, lemongrass chicken soy, vermicelli noodles, sliced yellow onion, bean sprouts, lime wedges, mint, Thai basil, scallions, cilantro, jalapeño, sweet chili, tamari, hoisin and sambal

Above: Mini pretzels with Dijon mustard and Yards beer cheese sauce (PHL)

Above: Farro and squash salad with butternut squash (PHL)

Miami (MIA) Flagship^® lounge:

Blistered shishito peppers with sesame chimichurri and pearl onions
Ghirardelli cocoa bar with butterscotch sticks, white and dark chocolate chips, marshmallows, Andes Mints, whipped topping and caramel and chocolate sauce
Peruvian chaufa bowls action station with brown rice, chorizo, fried tofu, hoisin sauce, carrots, napa cabbage, charred corn, scallions, cilantro, red peppers, tamari and broccoli

New York (JFK) joint premium lounges (The Chelsea Lounge™, Soho Lounge™ and Greenwich Lounge™ experiences):

Pulled short rib sliders (Greenwich)
Avocado tartine with smashed avocado, toasted sourdough, mache salad, heart of palm, pickled shallot, fresno pepper and radish (Chelsea)
Signature burgers (The Soho, Bushwick and East Village burgers): A trio of chef‑crafted options, including a house‑made veggie patty with vegan aioli, and two Pat LaFrieda smash‑patty creations featuring toppings such as English cheddar, caramelized onions, smoky aioli and artisanal buns (Soho)

New culinary action stations in Admirals Club lounges

American is expanding its experiential culinary program in select Admirals Club^® lounges nationwide. Beginning in January 2026, eligible Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Mastercard^® cardmembers and Admirals Club^® members will enjoy freshly prepared bagel and waffle bars, designed to add comfort and variety to the preflight routine.

Above: Bagel bars — locations include Nashville (BNA), DFW, LAX, ORD, Phoenix (PHX) and San Francisco (SFO)

Toppings: avocado, tomato, arugula, red pepper, red onion, prosciutto, smoked salmon, fresh dill and capers
Condiments: cream cheeses, hot sauces, olive oil, honey, everything seasoning and lemon

Above: Waffle bars — locations include Boston (BOS), Charlotte (CLT), Washington Reagan (DCA), JFK, New York (LGA), MIA and PHL

Spreads: maple syrup, chocolate sauce, whipped cream and almond butter
Toppings: powdered sugar, walnuts, cinnamon, coconut, fresh fruit and sprinkles

Gluten-free options will be available upon request

Looking ahead

These winter menu updates represent only a sneak peek of the refreshed offerings debuting in lounges beginning Dec. 10. Even more culinary experiences will be available across the network. In February, Flagship^® lounges will transition to a spring lineup, followed by Admirals Club^® lounge locations in March.

American Airlines remains committed to delivering distinctive flavors and thoughtful hospitality at every stage of the journey, ensuring travelers enjoy memorable experiences both in the air and on the ground.

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JetBlue unveils “Wicked Blue,” a Boston-inspired livery on A320 N537JT celebrating two decades as the city’s favorite airline

JetBlue Airways on December 19, 2025 celebrated Wicked Blue, the airline’s newest specially painted aircraft, featuring a Boston-themed livery as a tribute to the city that JetBlue has proudly served for more than 20 years.

Named after the New England slang for “extremely,” Wicked Blue is a nod to JetBlue’s Boston roots. The newly painted Airbus A320’s (N537JT) tail features a postcard-style stamp with the date of JetBlue’s first-ever revenue flight from Boston. Spanning its blue fuselage is a bold “BOSTON” postcard design with fun, city-inspired illustrations tucked into every letter:

An ode to Boston’s iconic transportation system
The Paul Revere statue in the North End
The Zakim Bridge, anchoring the skyline
A classic Boston lobster
The Massachusetts State House and its golden dome
The National Grid tank along the Dorchester waterfront, featuring the iconic “Rainbow Swash” mural

JetBlue launched service at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) in 2004 and today remains the city’s leading leisure airline with more mainline seats and flights from Boston than any other carrier. JetBlue takes customers from Boston to their favorite warm-weather destinations with the most flights to California, Florida and the Caribbean.

Service out of Logan continues to expand with the most transatlantic service of JetBlue’s focus cities, including newly announced nonstop service to Barcelona beginning April 16, 2026, and Milan beginning May 11, 2026. JetBlue is also deepening its local service with new routes from Boston to Daytona Beach and Vero Beach this month.

Boston is home to many of JetBlue’s TrueBlue Mosaic™ members, which is why the airline’s second BlueHouse™ lounge location will open at Logan Airport in 2026. BlueHouse in Logan’s Terminal C will give Boston customers a warm, homey retreat to work, relax or enjoy locally inspired food and drinks before takeoff.

Wicked Blue (N537JT) joins JetBlue’s growing family of Boston-related aircraft, including special liveries honoring its official sponsorship of the Bruins, Celtics and Red Sox, and long-standing partnership with Dunkin’. Together, they celebrate every corner of a city central to JetBlue’s identity.

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Qanot Sharq takes delivery of its first Airbus A321XLR aircraft

Qanot Sharq Airlines, one of Uzbekistan’s leading private passenger airlines, has taken delivery of its first of four Airbus A321XLR aircraft via a long-term lease agreement with Air Lease.

With this delivery, Qanot Sharq becomes the first A321XLR operator in Central Asia and the CIS, reinforcing the airline’s ambition to modernise its fleet and expand its international route network and operate new routes to key markets across Asia, including Sanya and Busan, and New York City (via Budapest), while significantly enhancing Qanot Sharq’s connectivity across Asia-Pacific and Europe.

Powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines, the aircraft is configured with 190 seats in a two-class layout featuring 16 full-flat Business Class and 174 Economy Class seats. It offers passengers and cabin crew the enhanced comfort of Airbus’ Airspace Cabin, featuring XL overhead bins with 60% more storage space compared to previous generation aircraft. In addition, in-seat connectivity is available to all passengers while the latest lighting system enhances the overall passenger experience.

Despite a reorganization cutting costs, Spirit Airlines spends money for a special holiday sweater livery on A320 N628NK

Spirit Airlines announced:

Spirit Airlines Guests will unwrap a great value on travel this holiday season as the carrier prepares to connect family and friends across more than 8,900 flights during the peak holiday travel period. Travelers looking to fly in style can treat themselves or a loved one to a decked-out experience with Spirit offering more premium seats this holiday season than ever before. Beyond offering unmatched value on travel, the airline is spreading the magic of the holidays across the communities it serves with its first-ever holiday livery, festive concerts, activations and more.

Spirit Airlines Takes Holiday Cheer to the Skies with New, Special-Edition Livery and More Festive Fun

Spreading Unmatched Value and Cheer
Highlights of Spirit’s peak holiday travel period, which runs Dec. 19, 2025, through Jan. 5, 2026, include:

More than 8,900 Spirit flights are scheduled to operate.
Top five busiest Spirit travel days are Dec. 19, Dec. 22, Dec. 26, Jan. 2 and Jan. 5.
More than 3,000 cups of hot chocolate will be available on board.
Spirit flights are scheduled to travel over 8.9 million miles, enough to wrap holiday lights around the Earth more than 350 times.

New Holiday Sweater Livery
Spirit aircraft N628NK is getting cozy this season with a new limited-time holiday livery. The new livery is styling a holiday sweater with snowman and gingerbread man designs and will take to the skies throughout the winter season.

Rocking Into the Holidays with iHeartRadio’s Jingle Ball
Spirit is proud to be the official airline sponsor of iHeartRadio Y100.7’s Jingle Ball in Miami and sponsor of the iHeartRadio 103.5 KISS FM’s Jingle Ball in Chicago and iHeartRadio Channel 95.5’s Jingle Ball Detroit this year. The airline’s partnership with Jingle Ball helps bring festive performances to the communities it serves this holiday season and strengthens its engagement in key markets.

All photos by Spirit Airlines.

American’s new Airbus A321XLR debuts on transcontinental route

American has elevated transcontinental travel today with the inaugural flight of its Airbus A321XLR, carrying more than 150 passengers between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). As the only U.S.-based airline to operate the A321XLR, the aircraft is a class above the rest, offering customers a Flagship Suite^®, Premium Economy and Main Cabin experience.

Customers on the inaugural received a gift bag that included a specially designed flight tag to commemorate the aircraft’s first transcontinental flight.

As American takes delivery of additional A321XLR aircraft, the airline will schedule the aircraft on its transcontinental routes between Boston (BOS)-LAX and JFK-San Francisco (SFO) for service starting early next year. This additional transcontinental service will complement new service between JFK and Edinburgh, Scotland (EDI), that will launch on the XLR on March 8, 2026.

Departure airport	Arrival airport	Service start date
Boston (BOS)	Los Angeles (LAX)	July 2, 2026
New York (JFK)	San Francisco (SFO)	May 7, 2026

Featuring the luxurious 20 Flagship Suite^® seats, a dozen relaxing Premium Economy seats and 123 reimagined Main Cabin seats, American is offering customers a refined premium transcontinental journey with high-speed Wi-Fi and complimentary seatback entertainment featuring Bluetooth connectivity.

Customers traveling in the Flagship Suite^® seat have direct aisle access, lie-flat seating, more storage space and wireless charging. Premium Economy seats feature enhanced winged headrests, calf and footrests and wireless charging.

American Airlines sets the stage for summer with 15 new routes

While the holiday season is underway, American Airlines is looking ahead to next summer with 15 new routes for those looking to gift the perfect trip next year. American’s network already provides more one-stop connections than any other airline. Now, travelers will have more reasons to fly American when traveling across the country and the world next summer.

American’s new domestic routes

Departure airport	Arrival airport	Aircraft type	Service start date	Service end date	Frequency
Boston (BOS)	Madison, Wisconsin (MSN)	Embraer 175	June 18, 2026	Year-round	Once daily
BOS	Nantucket, Massachusetts (ACK)	E175	June 18, 2026	Sep. 8, 2026	Once daily
Charlotte (CLT)	Columbia, Missouri (COU)	E175	June 4, 2026	Year-round	Once daily
Chicago (ORD)	Erie, Pennsylvania (ERI)	Bombardier CRJ-700	May 21, 2026	Year-round	Once daily
ORD	Lincoln, Nebraska (LNK)	CRJ-700	June 4, 2026	Year-round	Once daily
ORD	Tri-Cities, Tennessee (TRI)	Embraer 170	May 21, 2026	Year-round	Once daily
Dallas Fort Worth (DFW)	LNK	CRJ-700	June 4, 2026	Year-round	Twice daily
DFW	Roanoke, Virginia (ROA)	Bombardier CRJ-900	June 4, 2026	Year-round	Once daily
Miami (MIA)	Jackson, Mississippi (JAN)	E175	March 14, 2026	Aug. 1, 2026	Once weekly on Saturdays
Phoenix (PHX)	Abilene, Texas (ABI)	E175	June 4, 2026	Year-round	Once daily
PHX	Anchorage, Alaska (ANC)	Airbus A321neo	May 21, 2026	Sept. 8, 2026	Once daily
PHX	Bozeman, Montana (BZN)	E175	June 4, 2026	Sept. 8, 2026	Once daily
PHX	Kalispell, Montana (FCA)	CRJ-700	June 19, 2026	Sept. 6, 2026	Twice weekly
PHX	LNK	CRJ-700	Winter 2026	Seasonal	Once daily
PHX	McAllen, Texas (MFE)	E175	June 4, 2026	Year-round	Once daily
PHX	Rapid City, South Dakota (RAP)	E175	June 4, 2026	Oct. 4, 2026	Once daily

American’s growing Chicago hub

American will offer more than 500 daily departures from Chicago (ORD) next summer as part of its continued commitment to the hub. The airline has added new service to more than 25 destinations from ORD and added frequencies in other markets this year, making the airport one of the fastest-growing hubs in the country. With this momentum, American is focused on thoughtfully growing its ORD network to more than 180 destinations and adding more flights in popular markets.

This growth will continue in 2026 with the addition of service to Erie, Pennsylvania (ERI); Lincoln, Nebraska (LNK); and Tri-Cities, Tennessee (TRI). And, as customers have positively responded to American’s winter network, the airline will extend winter-only offerings to Santa Fe, New Mexico (SAF) and Key West, Florida (EYW) into the summer between May 21 and Sept. 8.

Separately, American will also expand summer service from ORD to Hilton Head, South Carolina (HHH), and to Pensacola (PNS) and Panama City (ECP) in Florida. Previously operated only on the weekends, flights to these cities will operate daily between Feb. 12 and Sept. 8.

American will continue to grow options for Chicagoans to travel with increased frequencies across the airline’s network. In the spring, American will increase departures by more than 30% compared to 2025, offering more than 480 peak daily departures from ORD just in time for spring break.

All destinations served from ORD this spring will return next year, making American the only hub carrier at the airport to achieve this feat. As part of its demonstrated investment in Chicago, the airline will offer more than 25 additional destinations next spring versus 2025, including a mix of new destinations and seasonal routes that will start earlier.

All of American’s flights from ORD operate with dual-class aircraft, giving customers the opportunity to enhance their travel experience with the selection of a premium cabin. In addition, American’s ORD to London (LHR) route will continue to offer Flagship Suite^® seats for customers. Chicago was the first city in American’s network to receive this elevated premium offering.

Connecting smaller cities with the world

Traveling across the country and around the world will be easier than before on American’s global network. Starting June 4, American will add service to its 240th destination in the U.S.: Lincoln, Nebraska (LNK). No other airline serves as many domestic destinations as American, and now residents from LNK will have competitive one-stop service to international destinations such as Athens, Greece (ATH); Cancun, Mexico (CUN); Rome (FCO) and Sao Paulo (GRU).

In the Western U.S., American will grow its Phoenix (PHX) hub with seven new routes. New service to Bozeman, Montana (BZN); Kalispell, Montana (FCA); and Rapid City, South Dakota (RAP) will make it easier for travelers from states including California, Nevada and Arizona to get to national parks, monuments and more. Meanwhile, new flights to Abilene (ABI) and McAllen (MFE) in Texas will provide travelers one-stop access to destinations across the Western U.S. and Mexico.

This growth is part of American’s consistent commitment to powering global access through its hubs. Recently, the airline launched service to cities including Carlsbad, California (CLD); Golden Triangle, Mississippi (GTR); Santa Maria, California (SMX); and Sun Valley, Idaho (SUN). In 2026, the airline will also be the only airline connecting the U.S. with Bimini, Bahamas (BIM), and will add service to Vero Beach, Florida (VRB).

Collectively, American’s hub airports power global access to more than 350 destinations around the world served by the airline. Together with American’s airline partners, customers can access more than 1,000 destinations.

Historic Ju 52 and Super Star aircraft completed in Lufthansa Group Hangar One

Lufthansa announced:

Just in time for the start of the anniversary year, the historic aircraft have been completed! The Junkers Ju 52 and Lockheed L-1649A Super Star have now been finally accepted at “Lufthansa Group Hangar One.” This means that the two central exhibits, which will soon be on display in the new conference and visitor center, are now complete. Over the past few months, the aircraft were delivered in individual parts by heavy transporters and have since been reassembled with great attention to detail in their new home near Frankfurt Airport.

The Junkers Ju 52 and the Lockheed Super Star will be the main attractions of the “Lufthansa Group Hangar One.” Thanks to a glass façade, visitors will also be able to admire these two icons of aviation history from the outside. The opening of the conference and visitor center coincides with the 100th anniversary of the founding of the first Deutsche Luft Hansa and underscores the importance of aviation history for the Lufthansa Group.

A picture gallery contains numerous photos from the delivery of the aircraft to the final acceptance. You can download the folder on the right in the margin column.

About the Ju 52:
The first Junkers Ju 52 was added to the Lufthansa fleet in 1932 and quickly became the backbone of the airline’s aircraft fleet. Valued for its economy and reliability, the aircraft accounted for around 50 percent of the Lufthansa fleet at that time.

The “Aunt Ju” is much more than an aircraft – it is a symbol of pioneering spirit, engineering excellence, and the fascination of aviation. With its striking corrugated metal appearance, three characteristic engines, and unparalleled reliability, the Ju 52 has captivated generations of pilots, passengers, and aviation enthusiasts. First developed in the 1930s, the Ju 52 set new standards in passenger and cargo transport. Its versatility made it an indispensable companion in civil and military aviation. Its robust construction and ability to land on unpaved runways in particular made it synonymous with reliability and innovation. Today, the Ju 52 is considered a cult aircraft that makes the hearts of aviation enthusiasts beat faster.

About the Super Star:
In 1957, the Lockheed Super Star joined the Lufthansa fleet and was the first aircraft to feature the Senator class, the most exclusive form of travel. It was mainly used for flights to New York, flying non-stop across the North Atlantic. The aircraft was also a technical masterpiece. With its four piston engines, it closed the chapter on classic propeller aircraft. These flights, which lasted up to 17 hours, took off from Hamburg, where the maintenance base was also located. The Super Star is 35.42 meters long and has a wingspan of 45.18 meters and a height of 7.12 meters.

About “Lufthansa Group Hangar One”:
In the immediate vicinity of the Lufthansa Aviation Center (LAC), the Lufthansa Group began construction of a new conference and visitor center at Frankfurt Airport in 2024, which will be a place for new forms of collaboration for employees and, at the same time, for customers, business partners, and aviation enthusiasts.

Lufthansa’s pioneering spirit and expertise will be tangible and experiential – especially in terms of shaping the future of aviation, but also with regard to the history of the company. Two restored Lufthansa aircraft will be on permanent display as the main historical attractions: the Junkers Ju 52 and the legendary Lockheed Super Star.

In an open gallery, visitors will be able to explore numerous exhibits from Lufthansa’s corporate history, some of which will be on public display for the first time. Like the group’s training and conference hotel “Lufthansa Seeheim,” the Frankfurt conference and visitor center will also be open for external events and will offer visitors catering services in a coffee lounge.

More airline news:

Aeroitalia will open a new base at Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport

AeroItalia has confirmed that it will open a new base at Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport in mid‑first quarter 2026, with operations scheduled to begin on February 2. The base will initially house two ATR 72‑600 aircraft, each with 68 seats, and will be staffed by around 20 crew members permanently based in Genoa. This move is designed to ensure service continuity and reliability, even if one aircraft is undergoing maintenance.

The first scheduled route from the new base will be daily flights between Genoa and Rome Fiumicino. The timetable includes morning and evening services on weekdays, a morning rotation on Saturdays, and an evening rotation on Sundays. This frequency is intended to provide consistent connectivity between Liguria and the Italian capital, complementing existing rail and road options.

AeroItalia’s leadership has emphasized that the Genoa base represents only the beginning of a broader expansion strategy. The company views Genoa as a promising market and intends to progressively add new destinations from the airport.

In other news, Aeroitalia has been ordered by an Italian court to change its name and branding by January 1, 2026. The ruling came after ITA Airways, which owns the historic Alitalia brand, argued that Aeroitalia’s name, logo, and tricolor design were too similar to Alitalia and could mislead consumers. The Rome appeals court sided with ITA in June 2025, overturning an earlier dismissal of the case. As part of the judgment, Aeroitalia must stop using its current identity across the European Union and disable its aeroitalia.com domain, with fines imposed for non‑compliance.

The airline has criticized the decision, claiming its branding reflects Italian heritage rather than imitation. Aeroitalia is considering appealing to Italy’s Supreme Court, though legal experts suggest the chances of success are slim. In the meantime, the carrier has hinted at rebranding opportunities, with “Italian Airways” already registered as a possible new name. However, analysts warn that this option could also face challenges due to its similarity to ITA Airways.

The name change poses significant financial and operational challenges for Aeroitalia. Repainting aircraft, updating signage, and revising marketing materials will cost millions, a heavy burden for a relatively small regional airline. Beyond the expense, the rebrand risks weakening Aeroitalia’s recognition in the Italian market, where it has emphasized patriotic branding and regional connectivity, particularly with flights to Sardinia and Sicily.

Air Canada prepares to welcome more than 2.3 million customers onboard this holiday season

’Tis the season for making memories, and for more than 2.3 million Air Canada customers, that starts the moment they arrive at the airport. Between December 18 and January 4, the airline expects to welcome close to 130,000 customers a day – surpassing 140,000 during peak periods – in one of its busiest travel weeks of the year.

Holiday Hospitality at Every Step of the Journey

“At Air Canada, the customer experience is at the core of everything we do, and we know that at this busy time of year and with unpredictable weather, holiday travel is exciting but can also be stressful,” says Tom Stevens, Vice President of Customer Experience and Service Operations. “Our teams are here to provide attentive care and help customers feels confident and comfortable throughout their journey. Especially our customers who may need an extra helping hand – whether that’s families with young children, or our customers with accessibility needs.”

The warm welcome for customers starts with our airline agents, there to help navigate the busy terminals – whether it’s directions to restrooms, charging stations, our lounges or simply offering an extra set of hands. And if it’s extra fuel you need, stop and say hi and grab a complimentary festive snack across many of our Canadian airports between December 18 and 24. The team will be handing out a selection of our onboard treats like LeClerc Célébration Cookies and TWIGZ buttery herb and garlic pretzels.

Earlier this month, Air Canada’s team members kicked off their efforts and surprised customers at Montréal-Trudeau International Airport with thoughtful gifts for the holiday season. See the smiles these surprises brought in this holiday video.

Innovations Making Every Journey Smoother

From major investments in aircraft cabins, new technology, and frontline training, the airline continues to transform the Air Canada travel experience. In 2025, Air Canada rolled out upgrades designed to boost comfort and confidence, including fast, free Wi-Fi for Aeroplan Members sponsored by Bell on North American and Sun routes, complimentary beer, wine and premium snacks – including non-alcoholic Heineken 0.0 – and new Air Canada Cafés at Montréal-Trudeau and Vancouver domestic terminals for a relaxed way to grab a pre-flight coffee or snack.

The Air Canada mobile app offers customers day-of-travel updates, with flight status, gate changes, and real-time baggage tracking helping them feel more in control of their trip. This includes a new tool that puts a human face to the hardworking employees loading and unloading customer baggage.

As always, Air Canada offers priority assistance for families, and customers with accessibility requirements. From contact centre agents and gate staff to cabin crews and baggage handlers, airline teams are committed to supporting every customer’s needs – whether that’s helping children travelling alone, assisting with tight connections, or ensuring smooth travel for those with accessibility requirements. The airline’s three-year Accessibility Plan, launched in 2023, guides ongoing investments and training to make travel more inclusive and seamless for all customers.

Seasonal Flavours on the Ground and in the Air

Air Canada is delivering a feast of festive flavours at airline lounges and in-flight. In select Maple Leaf Lounges, customers can enjoy curated regional Canadian favourites, from oven-roasted turkey to Beef Provençale, tourtière du Québec, pomegranate-roasted root vegetables and ragoût de boulettes d’antan. Guests can also indulge in classic holiday desserts such as gingerbread cookies, yule logs, panettone, and more.

The airline is also adding festive touches to menus in all cabins throughout December. On select Air Canada international outbound flights, customers can look forward to:

Economy: Red velvet cookies, and broccoli and cranberry salad
Premium Economy: Hot chocolate, TWIGZ Cinnamon Churro pretzels, and broccoli and cranberry salad
Air Canada Signature Class: Festive turkey roulade meal, cranberry Aperol spritz, and San Sebastian cheesecake with cranberry and orange compote

Beyond festive food and drink offerings, Air Canada is bringing extra holiday cheer to make the journey feel special for all customers. On December 25, children 12 and under on select routes may receive a Lindt teddy bear – a small keepsake to start their journey with a smile. For cozy, fun-filled moments in the air, customers can choose from more than 50 holiday-themed titles on Air Canada’s award-winning in-flight entertainment system, including The Holdovers, 23 décembre, Home Alone, La Guerre des Tuques and The Polar Express.

Raising the Bar on Air Canada Travel in 2026

Beyond the holiday season, Air Canada is looking forward to an exciting 2026, with new routes connecting customers to even more destinations, new aircraft featuring redesigned cabins for elevated comfort, and a range of new customer-focused products and services designed to make every journey smoother and more enjoyable.