Air Canada has announced that as of November 21, live TV is now available on select aircraft on domestic routes. Passengers will be able to enjoy live sports and news on six different channels, in both English and French.
Live TV Now Available on Select Air Canada Domestic Flights
Passengers on select Air Canada domestic flights can now enjoy live satellite TV as part of their in-flight entertainment experience. There is no additional fee, and it comes in addition to Air Canada’s extensive in-flight entertainment selection.
The decision to launch on November 21 is no coincidence, as the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar also begins on this date. Two of the available channels, TSN and RDS, will be broadcasting games, and passengers won’t have to wait until later to keep track of the scores.
At the outset, six channels give passengers the choice of watching live sports, news, or business programming while in-flight.
For sports, passengers can choose from two English-language channels, TSN, TSN 2, and one French-language channel, RDS. Between these three, there are plenty of live soccer, hockey, basketball, football, baseball, golf, motor racing, and other events, so you won’t miss out on any important games.
For English news, passengers can now watch the CTV News Channel during their flights. This channel features breaking news from communities across Canada and around the world, as well as a 24-hour news network for those red-eye flights.
French-speaking travellers won’t miss out on any news, as LCN, Quebec’s main all-news station, broadcasts news and other programming from morning to night.
Lastly, business travellers can watch BNN Bloomberg, offering business news, breaking finance updates, and live market coverage.
Currently, there are 40 aircraft that are equipped for live TV, including Boeing 777s, Boeing 787 Dreamliners, Airbus A330s, and Airbus A220s. Canada’s largest airline expects to offer live TV programming on 50% of domestic flights on mainline aircraft by the second quarter of 2023.
Furthermore, Air Canada plans to expand live TV to more flights, as well as offer more content and features, throughout 2023.
Another Improvement to the Air Canada In-flight Experience
The addition of live TV comes as the latest improvement to Air Canada’s in-flight offering, as the airline is both returning to pre-pandemic service levels and further refining its ground and onboard products.
Prior to takeoff, guests can now enjoy sparkling wine, a wider selection of wines, and locally-inspired dishes in Maple Leaf Lounges. Furthermore, the airline debuted the Porsche chauffeur service in Vancouver, which is available to eligible paid Signature Class passengers.
Furthermore, Super Elites and passengers travelling in business class no longer get stuck in lounge queues, as Air Canada has a separate access line.
Recently, Air Canada announced the return of the full Signature Class experience, where guests are offered a pre-flight drink, have their jackets hung, and enjoy hot towel service, as well as new and improved Acqua di Parma amenity kits.
Even passengers travelling in economy on international flights will enjoy a refined dining experience, with a revamped menu featuring appetizers that highlight the destination’s cuisine, a hot entree designed by Chef Jérôme Ferrer, and a separate dessert service.
All passengers will surely benefit from continued improvement to the ground and onboard experiences, and it’s great to see Air Canada returning to, and improving, its pre-pandemic service offerings.
Conclusion
Passengers on select Air Canada domestic flights can now enjoy live TV from the seatback entertainment system. Currently, 40 aircraft feature live programming, and the airline hopes to offer live TV on 50% of domestic flights by mid-2023.
There are six different channels to begin with, covering sports, news, and business programming, with options in both English and French. Throughout the 2022 FIFA World Cup, travellers won’t miss out on any of the action, as two of the channels, TSN and RDS, broadcast games.
This is a welcome announcement from Air Canada, as it gives passengers more entertainment choices during their flights.
WestJet has had live TV for years so that is incorrect. Also improvements to the in-flight experience re: MLL access is more like a downgrade for anyone who is 50/75K or *G. The bias in these AC stories has really soured my opinion of this so-called independent blog… should be renamed Prince of Aeroplan!!
Why on earth is Wifi still not operative on their 737-MAX fleet? These aircraft are flying 6+hr missions like SFO-YUL. Insanity in 2022.