Air Canada is currently making some major changes to the composition of its fleet, and it particularly impacts the company’s low cost subsidiary, Rouge. This project is now well underway, and the first aircraft has already been reconfigured, so I’d like to provide an update with all of the details.
Continue reading: Air Canada Transferring All Boeing 737 MAXs To Rouge Subsidiary In 2026
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Rouge is now just a vessel for Air Canada to pay its flight attendants less while working the same cabins and offering the same services. They were obviously inspired by LH, but in this case all other employees are paid Air Canada wages to work Rouge flights.
Why would they cheapen an already beautiful new aircraft with the 'Rouge' distinction. Like, I get it when they have the ancient 767s that they fly to FLL, but, new MAXs? Sheesh...
Could this move be to protect the good name of AC, that is when the 737 Max kites start dropping from the skies like dead flies?
Please remember that many a true word has been spoken in jest …. 🙂
The Leisure subsidiary needs all the fuel economy it can get in an economic downturn. AC is selling far fewer seatmiles on US routes, with Canadian vacationers mostly going to places farther away than US cities. Cancun instead of Orlando, Barbados instead of Miami, Cabo instead of Palm Springs. The widespread boycotting of US travel has enabled the earlier deadline.
It's will be a disaster. The 320 and 321 planes AC currently own are ancient poorly maintained junk. That's why AC has pathetic on time performance.
Total falsehoods. Canadian to USA travel did decrease marginally last year, though was far more than COVID, and YTD is up 7% over 2024 (Liddle Joe Biden's Term). Please don't make up anti-USA facts just because you're so upset that we're WINNING so much. Anyways If wanted such a poorly thought-out, moronic and imbecilic comment, I would have stared deep into my toilet bowl after dropping a dookie.
DenB
Ummm...maybe you better have a look at the latest official figures for cross-border travel, specifically Canadian visitors going to the U.S.A. before sprouting off nonsense (which is clearly politically-motivated and not fact-based).
To the posters below, where are you getting your data? Everything I've read about air and car travel to the US talks about significant declines
E.g.
https://financialpost.com/transportation/airlines/canadian-air-travel-us-drops-11-straight-month
One can easily forget that AC has one underlying factor which can cause apparent on time performance problems. Weather related issues due to its more northerly location and its domestic routes, etc. AC has to deal with more de-icing issues which do not typically exist in the Southern States, etc. Comparing apples with oranges is hardly realistic, yes?
My experience with Rouge was unforgettable; flight from ORD to Quebec City connected in Montreal just in time for severe storms to roll through. Five hours later, we were rescheduled onto a Rouge A319 for the final 45 minute flight. THat was the tightest, most uncomfortable flight I've ever had the displeasure of taking. The return to Montreal on a Dash 8 (a few days later) felt like being in Emirates First by comparison. Anything that AC can do to make Rouge less horrible is a good plan.
Great! Now people will not longer have to worry about falling out of the sky when flying mainline AC. Excellent improvement!
Sure...until you realise they run into issues in the middle of July on a sunny summer's day and you find yourself sitting on the floor at YYZ regretting your entire life.
AC is no longer formally operating any 767s anymore. They were retired during COVID and a couple were brought back in as a temporary backup in 2025. Not sure if they're still there or if they've been retired again since.
I'd rather fly this thing than fly their previous Rouge A321s. At least they have onboard entertainment, though nothing will get me to accept the 29" seat pitch they're installing. Pathetic. I'm only 5'7" and I find that configuration unacceptable.