AC 737 Max

[blues deville]

 

[Guest]

Air Canada's New Boeing 737 MAX Enters Regular Service to Transport Customers with Next Generation Amenities Français

 

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NEWS PROVIDED BY

Air Canada

09:46 ET

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Narrow-body fleet renewal begins with first scheduled flights

MONTREAL, Dec. 11, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada embarked today on the next phase of its transformation with the entry into scheduled service of its new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. Flight AC137 from Toronto to Calgary this morning was the first to be operated using the 169-seat, fuel-efficient aircraft, featuring Air Canada's next generation in-flight entertainment system, spacious overhead storage bin capacity and Boeing's Sky Interior. Throughout the day it will then fly passengers from Calgary to Montreal, followed by service from Montreal to Vancouver.  

"Introducing a new aircraft type to the fleet is always exciting for an airline, but we know customers will be even more thrilled by the Boeing 737 MAX, which is set to become the mainstay of our North American, narrow-body fleet. With this new aircraft we are introducing the next generation of our onboard entertainment system and customers will find ample storage space for carry-on baggage in its generous overhead bins," said Benjamin Smith, President, Passenger Airlines at Air Canada.

"The 737 MAX is also more fuel efficient and quieter than the older, narrow-body aircraft it will replace, benefitting the environment. This increased efficiency will also enable us to compete more effectively and gives the aircraft extended range capabilities so we can launch new city pairings within North America, and routes to select international destinations. Combined with our fleet of Boeing 777 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, the Boeing 737 MAX will ensure Air Canada continues to have one of the most modern fleets among global carriers," said Mr. Smith.

Air Canada has 61 firm orders for the 737 MAX. They are to be delivered by 2021, with 18 due to enter the fleet by the end of 2018. Its first scheduled flights in North America include service to Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver and Montreal. The aircraft is also scheduled to operate internationally to Keflavik, Dublin and Shannon starting in summer 2018. Air Canada has configured the 737 MAX in two cabins of service, North American Business and Economy. Features of the new aircraft include:

• Premium comfort and ambiance with improved seats and innovative LED mood lighting along the ceiling;
• An upgraded in-flight entertainment system with a sleek, new 15 language user interface. Coming soon, passengers will be able to stream video and audio to their own devices;
• Faster Wi-Fi due to antennas with the highest bandwidth available in the industry, available starting in early 2018;
• Upgraded overhead storage space compartments offer additional space for every single passenger to bring a carry-on bag;
• The latest quiet engine technology for up to 40 percent less noise, meaning more peace and quiet for customers when flying;
• The 737 MAX uses 20 percent less fuel per seat than the original Next-Generation 737.

For more information, including photographs of the aircraft interior, please go to 

[Guest]

I remember the post that WestJet's 737 max 800 was the first in Canada.  Is it currently operating in scheduled service?

[Leeroy]

Three online, I thought four, but...

[Guest]

Transport Canada only showing 1 registered to WestJet. 

C-GXAX Any ides re the other 3?

[Leeroy]

C-FRAX, C-FNAX. Not sure about the fourth. I've seen at least two on the gate in YYZ.

[rudder]

It’s still a 737. Same cabin width. Same cabin height. Pretty lights and bigger bins.

AC got a steep discount on the MAX order. That justifies the purchase. Operating costs will be low. In a stable revenue environment it will mean healthy margin improvements.

[FA@AC]

6 minutes ago, rudder said:

Pretty lights and bigger bins.

Bigger bins, several of which can't be used for bags as they're filled with catering equipment thanks to the skimpy aft galley configuration AC chose.  FA Facebook talk, for what it's worth, made mention of many bags having to be gate-checked on the first couple of flights.  This was not expected to be necessary.  It might be because people aren't yet used to stowing rollaboard bags on their sides as is supposed to be possible on this aircraft.

[vanishing point]

Perhaps the small bins are meant to deter people from bringing bags on board....

No....I'm serious....

[J.O.]

We rode with Alaska to SFO a couple of months back in a 737 with the new interior. The bins are substantially bigger.

[st27]

There will be even less space in the overhead bins on the etops machines....the life rafts are in the overhead bins overwing.

[Super 80]

45 minutes ago, st27 said:

There will be even less space in the overhead bins on the etops machines....the life rafts are in the overhead bins overwing.

I would swear that isn't the case on the Southwest aircraft.

[anonymous]

The life rafts are in the ceiling, not the bins.

[FA@AC]

40 minutes ago, anonymous said:

The life rafts are in the ceiling, not the bins.

Yes they are.  The Airbus narrow bodied aircraft were equipped with rafts that can be deployed right from the exits 25 years ago.  In a water landing--assuming that the aircraft did float--pax would evacuate from the cabin directly onto rafts.  Should the ultra-modern 737 MAX ever ditch in the North Atlantic, everyone will need to evacuate into the water.  Should they not freeze to death first, they'll later be able to board an inflatable dingy if the last couple of people to evacuate are able to haul 90lbs of raft down from the ceiling compartments, move rafts to the exits and launch them.  I'm a bit surprised that the aircraft was approved for etops with such a set up.

[Guest]

38 minutes ago, FA@AC said:

Yes they are.  The Airbus narrow bodied aircraft were equipped with rafts that can be deployed right from the exits 25 years ago.  In a water landing--assuming that the aircraft did float--pax would evacuate from the cabin directly onto rafts.  Should the ultra-modern 737 MAX ever ditch in the North Atlantic, everyone will need to evacuate into the water.  Should they not freeze to death first, they'll later be able to board an inflatable dingy if the last couple of people to evacuate are able to haul 90lbs of raft down from the ceiling compartments, move rafts to the exits and launch them.  I'm a bit surprised that the aircraft was approved for etops with such a set up.

Probably approved since there is no hope in hell that a water ditching in the North Atlantic would be survivable or would it? The hudson river is one thing, a ocean ditching is not likely survivable due to the nature of the open sea and lack of survival suits.  Let's hope we never find out.

However in the past:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_landing

[conehead]

My favourite; “On 21 August 1963, an Aeroflot Tupolev Tu-124 ditched into the Neva River in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) after running out of fuel. A nearby tugboat pulled the plane to shore where the passengers disembarked onto the tug; all 52 on board escaped without injuries.”

[CanadaEH]

On 12/12/2017 at 6:04 PM, FA@AC said:

Yes they are.  The Airbus narrow bodied aircraft were equipped with rafts that can be deployed right from the exits 25 years ago.  In a water landing--assuming that the aircraft did float--pax would evacuate from the cabin directly onto rafts.  Should the ultra-modern 737 MAX ever ditch in the North Atlantic, everyone will need to evacuate into the water.  Should they not freeze to death first, they'll later be able to board an inflatable dingy if the last couple of people to evacuate are able to haul 90lbs of raft down from the ceiling compartments, move rafts to the exits and launch them.  I'm a bit surprised that the aircraft was approved for etops with such a set up.

I know you prefaced what you said by saying "if the aircraft did float" but really. In the event a plane crashes into the Atlantic I really doubt the location of life rafts will make a lick of a difference. 

[boestar]

The only requirement is that the aircraft be "equipped" with rafts to hold a  full load of passengers.