It is the first of eight to join the fleet and has almost 58 tonnes of cargo capacity, with approximately 75% on the main deck.
The first freighter will operate between Toronto and Frankfurt for the remainder of 2021, in addition to flights to Vancouver.
In 2022, it will also serve Miami, Quito, Lima, Mexico City and Guadalajara from Toronto, and the second freighter will serve airports including Madrid, Halifax and St. John’s when it is delivered in the first half of 2022.
The freighters will increase capacity for goods such as automotive and aerospace parts, oil and gas equipment, pharmaceuticals, perishables, as well as e-commerce.
Jason Berry, Vice President – Cargo at Air Canada says the first freighter was deployed earlier than planned to meet demand caused by flooding disrupting British Columbia’s transport network.
He says: “The freighter is planned to operate 12 trips between our Toronto and Vancouver cargo hubs. Our teams have also worked extremely hard over the last several days to get our freighter into service early to aid in the transport of goods to Vancouver.”
The freighter has entered service without its final livery, and it will be painted in a cargo variation of the Air Canada livery introduced in 2017.