Air Canada Launches Live TV on Select Domestic Flights

Air Canada has announced the launch of Live TV onboard select aircraft on domestic routes. As a result, the national flag carrier of Canada is now the only airline in the country to offer passengers the chance to watch live sports and news coverage while in the air. 

Air Canada plans to offer six Canadian channels, all of which can be watched live in either English or French.

For sports fans flying with Air Canada, a choice of TSN, TSN 2, and RDS will be available, providing access to coverage of a wide range of premium sports, including live coverage of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, basketball, football, baseball, golf, motor racing, and of course, Canada’s national sport—ice hockey.

Three live news channels will also be available: CTV News Channel, LCN, and BNN Bloomberg. 

Live TV on Air Canada is currently only available on coast-to-coast domestic routes on select aircraft: Boeing 777s, Boeing 787s, Airbus A330s, and Airbus A220s. However, the airline plans to expand this coverage to up to 55% of mainline aircraft by the second quarter of 2023. It is unclear, however, whether its live TV service will be offered on international routes.

Photo: Air Canada’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, Business Class. Courtesy of Air Canada.

“We are thrilled to launch Live TV as the newest addition to our unparalleled onboard entertainment. Customers will be able to enjoy content from great Canadian channels in both English and French,” said John Moody, Senior Director of Product Design at Air Canada. “Sports fans flying with us can enjoy the exhilaration of watching regular season, playoff, and championship games in regular time, while business news junkies will appreciate remaining connected to market trends and current events right from their seat.”

Moody added that as the airline continues “elevating the customer experience, we look forward to expanding Live TV to more flights and bring even more leading content and features in 2023.”

The new service is part of Air Canada’s recent changes to its customers’ in-flight entertainment options and overall passenger experience. 

Air Canada’s Airbus A220-300. Photo: Courtesy of Air Canada

In addition to Live TV, passengers can expect a new Economy Class dining service, updated Premium cabins and Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges, and free, high-speed WiFi for Premium Rouge members. Passengers can also expect a more than 25% increase in onboard entertainment options from 2023.

“Air Canada is committed to elevating the customer experience and offering the kind of world-class service Canadians can be proud of from their flag carrier,” said Mark Nasr, Senior Vice President of Products, Marketing and eCommerce at Air Canada. 

“Accordingly, we are investing in all aspects of the journey to make travel even better for customers, including in our Economy and Premium cabins.”