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yesterday

Air Canada Overhauls 25 Dash 8-400s, Brings Starlink Wi‑Fi to Q400 for the First Time

De Havilland’s Starlink option enables gate-to-gate connectivity on the Q400, with Air Canada starting service from Toronto City Airport in October.

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Overview

  • Air Canada has begun a program to refit 25 Dash 8-400s with new Expliseat ergonomic seats and refreshed cabins that mirror its mainline interiors.
  • Each aircraft will keep a 78-seat layout with unchanged pitch, and the seating program targets completion around mid‑2026.
  • Free Wi‑Fi sponsored by Bell will debut in October on Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport flights to Montréal and Ottawa, marking a first for the Dash 8‑400.
  • De Havilland will offer Starlink as both a factory option and a retrofit for Q400 operators, a setup designed for minimal installation downtime.
  • Runway Girl reports at least one Jazz-operated Dash 8-400 is already fitted with Starlink, while Air Canada says broader Dash 8-400 Wi‑Fi installations are still being determined as it nears 97% next‑gen IFC coverage across mainline and Rouge with completion expected in 2026.