Air Canada is growing its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet, with an additional variant of the aircraft.
In this post:
Air Canada adds 787-10 to fleet as of late 2025
Air Canada has just placed an order for up to 30 Boeing 787-10s, with a firm order for 18 jets, and options for 12 additional planes. Deliveries are expected to start in Q4 2025, with the last aircraft expected to be delivered in Q1 2027, so the airline will acquire these planes in a pretty short period.
Air Canada’s Boeing 787 fleet currently consists of 38 planes, including 30 787-9s and eight 787-8s. The airline has an additional two 787-9s on order.
For context, the 787-10 is the largest variant of the Boeing 787. The plane has highest capacity, but also has the shortest range. In terms of long haul routes, the 787-10 could realistically operate any services to Europe, as well as most services from Vancouver to Asia. However, the plane couldn’t operate most routes from Montreal or Toronto to Asia, or routes from Vancouver to the South Pacific.
Here’s how Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau describes this order:
“Air Canada has made investing in the passenger experience a core priority. Our experience shows customers greatly enjoy flying on the Dreamliner, so we are pleased to offer them a larger version of this popular aircraft, which will premiere a new, state-of-the-art interior cabin design. As importantly, the 787 is highly fuel efficient and will generate operational savings as well as support our sustainability goals of reducing emissions.”
In addition to the Boeing 787s, Air Canada also has A321XLRs on order. While these aren’t wide body aircraft, they will be used for long haul flights.
How the 787-10 will fit into Air Canada’s fleet
Air Canada states that these new Boeing 787-10s will be used to replace older, less efficient wide body aircraft that are currently in Air Canada’s fleet. Air Canada’s current Boeing 787s are nowhere close to retirement, so presumably the planes will replace either Airbus A330s or Boeing 777s:
- Air Canada has 18 Airbus A330-300s, which are an average of over 17 years old, with some planes being delivered as far back as 1999
- Air Canada has 24 Boeing 777s (including six 777-200LRs and 18 777-300ERs), which are an average of nearly 14 years old, with planes only being delivered as far back as 2007
I have to imagine that the 787-10s will be used more to replace A330s than 777s. While the 787-10 is significantly larger than the A330, they can operate the same general routes in terms of range. Meanwhile the 777s still have an important place in Air Canada’s fleet for ultra long haul flights, in addition to the current 787-8s and 787-9s.
Then again, Air Canada largely uses its 777s for flights between Toronto and Europe, which are also well within range for the 787-10.
Bottom line
Air Canada has placed an order for up to 30 Boeing 787-10s, including 18 firm orders and 12 options. This complements the carrier’s existing fleet of 787-8s and 787-9s, so Air Canada will eventually fly all three variants of the plane.
Air Canada plans to use the 787-10s to replace older aircraft, though it’s not 100% clear if that’s referring to Airbus A330s or Boeing 777s. My money would primarily be on the former, but we’ll see.
What do you make of Air Canada’s Boeing 787-10 order?
Wonder if this purchase includes the increased gross weight (IGW) variant of the 787-10 that should be available at the time these deliveries take place.
Interestingly, I flew an AC A330 with a brand new interior last year. Wonder how/if date of last refurbish will impact their decisions on which aircraft to retire when.
I flew UA 787-10 from IAD to PEK before Covid, so the plane does have the range from North American East Coast to North Asia (China, Japan and Korea).
Lets wait and see...maybe they will be the IGW variant with increased range
Pal, the B787-10 is not "significantly" larger than the A330-300. Very much basically identical
The 78X is signicantly larger than the A339, the 78X is about the same size as the A359, 772 while the A339 is the same size as 789. You may be thinking they are the same size as they both have the same exit limit of 460, but that is with a 9-abreast layout on the 339, which is very unrealistc for most FSCs. Not 'very much basically identical'.
Good news for Boeing and the Dreamliner - 10!!!
I hope Air Canada orders the 777X and A350
It may depend a bit on how AC divvies up the -10 cabin. Their long haul fleet varies from 20 to 40 business seats, with 27-32 being the middle ranges. They haven't gone all that big on Prem Eco so far.
Will these be heavily economy for busy transatlantic routes? Could replace some 773 flying.
But more likely they'll sub in the new -10s on current -9 routes and use those to replace A333 flights.
Air Canada always on the move is my favorite Air Planes very peaceful with Air Canada. Allllllezzzzz laaaaaaaaa
I thought that after the big UA 787 orders there wasn’t much availability for other airlines.
Are planes available in smaller quantities like this or has Boeing found a way to increase production?
Like Air Canada flights, these planes will arrive 43% on time.
With Qantas and now Air Canada, nice to see a boost for the 787-10 that had been a bit slow so far to gain traction, hope we'll see more orders as well. Wonder if American might order some?
I wouldn't be surprised to see CX and JAL order some. CXs 773 and (non ERs) some of their A330s are getting long in the tooth.
I hope AA and other OW members purchase the 10 as well.
The 787-10 economics are compelling, the passenger experience in 9-abreast seating with a seat width of 17” (vs the A330’s 18”) not so much.
With nominally the same 17” seat width, the economy class travel experience in a 787 is for some reason also worse than that on a 777.
The 787-10 is a great aircraft with great economics. It just doesn't have the range for flights beyond 13 hours or so.
And airlines have turned the 787 in coach into a 9 abreast aircraft which makes it inferior to the 767 and A330
But Delta ordered the A35K so they’re still better.
The 35K has much longer range and larger size.
DL supposedly has a proposal from GE and Boeing for the 787-10 that includes MRO rights on the GEnx engine which would be a huge revenue source.
But adding the 787 would significantly complicate DL's efforts to simplify its fleet
The -10 is used on flights like LAX-NRT/HND, SFO-AKL, EWR-TLV, etc...none are pushing beyond 13 hours but that's not really the -10s role (that is for the -9).
I believe UA's ORD-HND flight is the longest -10 flight right now.
that is still 3/4 of what an A350 or B787-9 could do but any version of the A350 will carry alot more passengers and cargo over the same distance.
Given that many -10 operators have longer haul aircraft, the range of the -10 is not stopping its sales.
Delta's biggest fleet blunder was cancelling Northwest's 787 order. Their acquisition cost would have been so low compared to now jumping on the ship.
Additionally, the biggest mistake because of that decision is that TechOps has no MRO for the 787, or the GEnx engines (the most popular engine type for the 787). It is such a gaping hole it almost looks like an error.
Full Line Maintenance: 717, 737NG and MAX, 747, 757, 767,...
Delta's biggest fleet blunder was cancelling Northwest's 787 order. Their acquisition cost would have been so low compared to now jumping on the ship.
Additionally, the biggest mistake because of that decision is that TechOps has no MRO for the 787, or the GEnx engines (the most popular engine type for the 787). It is such a gaping hole it almost looks like an error.
Full Line Maintenance: 717, 737NG and MAX, 747, 757, 767, 777.
This is the best selling widebody of the last 10 years, and they have no rights. Unbelievably stupid decision.
Believe me, I'd love nothing more than seeing the 787 in Delta Livery.
Guessing these will replace the 333s and the 777LRs.
The 330 are ancient worn out planes, even TAP didn't want them.
Knowing AC the 330 will go to Rouge, and need constant maintenance and contribute to Air Canada's hopeless on time performance.
I'm a bit surprised AC didn't order any of the "newer" 787-9 with longer range, that could eventually replace the 777-200s.
However I very much doubt AC will be replacing any of the 777s, other than the one 777-300...
The 330 are ancient worn out planes, even TAP didn't want them.
Knowing AC the 330 will go to Rouge, and need constant maintenance and contribute to Air Canada's hopeless on time performance.
I'm a bit surprised AC didn't order any of the "newer" 787-9 with longer range, that could eventually replace the 777-200s.
However I very much doubt AC will be replacing any of the 777s, other than the one 777-300 that is now a hull loss, from the fire in Montreal.
Lol we can only hope AC would replace it's 777-300 slave ships that have 450 passenger
I will cry if they replace the A330 fleet. It's the last bastion of civilized economy seating in the entire long haul fleet.
Most likely the newest A333s will go to Rouge as about half are less than 15 years old, while the other half are over 20, and Rouge hasn't had any transatlantic capacity since the B767s were retired.
The silver lining of all these Dreamliner & A350 orders over the past few years is that there will be a significant number of 777s for sale. I love the look & feel of the 777-300. While it is less efficient & noisy interiors, the spacious cabin is impressive. Every time I'm aboard a 773, I marvel at the sheer length While roaming the aisles on an overnight flight.
I could definitely see Air Canada using these for their flights from Vancouver to Brisbane and Sydney
I don’t think it has the range: “However, the plane couldn’t operate most routes […] from Vancouver to the South Pacific.
no the 787-10 does not have the range for Sydney
Good for Air Canada. These new planes will be greatly appreciated by the traveling public. I wonder if they will be one of the largest 787-10 operators when/if they receive their options. Looks like it.
Aside from passenger capacity, the -10s can carry more cargo containers; cargo has been especially a lucrative and vital business for carriers post-COVID. I wouldn't be surprised if more carries like CX order some.