Air Canada is inching closer to an agreement that would see it acquire up to 20 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The goal of this expansion plan is to refresh and grow its long-haul fleet for the Summer 2023 season.
According to Bloomberg, Air Canada is in talks to secure 15 to 20 Dreamliners as part of a modernization and expansion drive. Globally, the Canadian carrier ranks ninth in fleet size, with a combined total of 352 aircraft across its parent and subsidiary companies.
While an official decision has yet to be announced, a spokesperson for Air Canada confirmed to Bloomberg that discussions are ongoing. In the wake of the potential 787 acquisition announcement, shares in Boeing witnessed a 3.6% spike, climbing to USD 208.13 in afternoon trading.
Boeing has chosen not to comment and leaving the situation in a state of uncertainty. The growing demand for international travel, which increases daily, could potentially catalyze this purchase.
The existing fleet of Air Canada boasts 38 Dreamliners: 8 from the series 8 and 30 from the series 9. Given the number of units they could potentially acquire, it seems likely that the new 787s would replace the older 767 and 777-200 models.
