Air Canada has actually revealed a significant refresh of its Q-400 fleet, with upgrades developed to enhance the traveler experience on short-haul local flights.
The program introduces free Wi-Fi on select paths from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ), in addition to brand-new seating and cabin interiors across 25 airplanes.
The Q-400, also called the Dash 8-400, is the backbone of Air Canada’s regional network. And it’s not simply the Wi-Fi getting an upgrade.
The upgrades mark a significant action in bringing these aircraft in line with the airline company’s mainline requirements.
Free Wi-Fi on Billy Bishop Routes
Beginning in October 2025, travelers travelling between Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and Ottawa (YOW) or Montréal (YUL) will have the ability to gain access to totally free, high-speed Wi-Fi from gate to gate.
The service, powered by Intelsat 2Ku and sponsored by Bell, makes Air Canada the first airline company to provide inflight connectivity on the Q-400.
For many tourists, these short shuttle bus flights are regular organization commutes. Until now, they’ve typically been “offline time” due to the lack of connectivity.
With the upgrade, guests will have the ability to remain connected for the whole journey, making the one-hour hops far more productive.
The rollout will start with choose aircraft and expand as the program advances.
Cabin and Seating Upgrades
Together with Wi-Fi, 25 of the 39 Air Canada Jazz Q-400s are receiving a cabin refresh. The aircraft will keep their 78-seat configuration, but will be fitted with brand-new Expliseat ergonomic seating.
The updated seats will feature enhanced assistance, incorporated gadget holders, and modern-day finishes.
Cabin interiors will likewise be revamped to show Air Canada’s existing branding, developing a more consistent feel and look across the fleet.
For passengers linking from mainline flights onto regional services, this should reduce the jarring shift in comfort and design.
New Air Canada Q-400 Seats Billy Bishop Competitors Regional flying isn’t always the most glamorous part of the journey, however with new seating and free Wi-Fi, Air Canada is making the Q-400 feel less like a throwback and more like an extension of its mainline service.
With Porter Airlines continuing to expand at Billy Bishop, these upgrades show how competition at the airport is driving better experiences for tourists. Free Wi-Fi and refreshed cabins are small touches, however they’re the kind that service visitors and regular flyers in fact observe.
< img src="https://princeoftravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Aspire-Air-Canada-Cafe-Toronto-Billy-Bishop-19-scaled-jpg.webp" alt ="" width="2560" height="1707"/ > The Aspire|Air Canada Café at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport
Personally, I love flying from Billy Bishop, due to the fact that of the Aspire Air Canada Café. I think it is among the best in town, and probably my preferred lounge in Toronto along with the Air France KLM Lounge in Terminal 3 at Pearson.
With these cabin upgrades layered in, the case for flying out of Billy Bishop ends up being even more powerful, especially for tourists who live or work closer to downtown.
Part of a Wider Connection Rollout
This statement also ties into Air Canada’s broader Wi-Fi strategy. Previously in 2025, the airline made free Wi-Fi readily available on a lot of mainline flights throughout The United States and Canada.
Extending the service to local turboprops guarantees a more seamless experience across the network, fulfilling the airline’s dedication to equip almost the whole fleet with next-generation connectivity by 2026.
Rollout Timeline
- October 2025: Free Wi-Fi introduces on YTZ– YOW and YTZ– YUL flights.
- Through mid-2026: 25 Q-400 aircrafts run by Jazz will be reconditioned with new seats and updated interiors.
Conclusion
Air Canada’s Q-400 fleet is set for a long-overdue refresh, beginning with totally free Wi-Fi on Billy Bishop routes this fall and continuing with new seating and cabin interiors through 2026.
For frequent visitors in between Toronto, Ottawa, and Montréal, the upgrades promise a more comfortable, connected, and consistent experience.
And with Porter Airlines also investing heavily in its item, the healthy competition at Billy Bishop eventually implies much better options for travellers throughout the board.