Air Canada Dash 8-400 Cabin Upgrade & Free Wi‑Fi

Air Canada is upgrading 25 Dash 8-400s with new seats and free onboard Wi‑Fi.

On September 19, 2025 Air Canada revealed a Dash 8-400 cabin upgrade for 25 De Havilland Dash 8-400 turboprops operated by Jazz, introducing ergonomic Expliseat seats, integrated device holders and interior styling aligned with mainline standards. Free Wi‑Fi will debut on Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport routes from October and is scheduled fleet-wide by mid-2026, marking an industry-first for the Dash 8-400.

What the Dash 8-400 cabin upgrade includes

The refresh focuses on passenger comfort and connectivity: new Expliseat seats promise improved ergonomics and slimmer profiles to increase personal space, while device holders aim to keep phones and tablets secure during boarding and flight. Air Canada says interiors will be visually updated to match its mainline fleet, narrowing the gap between regional and mainline travel experiences without changing aircraft performance.

• Dash 8-400 cabin upgrade for 25 Jazz-operated Dash 8-400s announced Sept 19, 2025
• Free Wi‑Fi rolling out on Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport routes from October
• Planned fleet-wide Wi‑Fi availability by mid-2026
• New Expliseat ergonomic seats and device holders to improve passenger comfort

Jazz will operate the modified aircraft under Air Canada’s regional brand, so passengers flying short-haul Canadian routes should notice the cabin improvements first. The initial Wi‑Fi launch at Billy Bishop (Toronto City) targets business and leisure travelers who rely on connectivity for work or entertainment on short flights that previously lacked reliable onboard internet.

Air Canada framing this as an industry-first for the Dash 8-400 signals a broader push to modernize regional fleets and passenger experience across domestic networks. For Gen‑Z and Millennial flyers, the combined improvements — more comfortable seats, phone/tablet holders and free Wi‑Fi — make short regional hops feel more connected and productive.

Sources

• Air Canada announcement, September 19, 2025 (company statement)