Air Canada taps Starlink for some Q400s as part of broader redesign

Air Canada has fitted SpaceX’s Starlink Ku-band Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite-powered inflight connectivity kit to a Dash 8-400 turboprop operated by regional affiliate Jazz Aviation, and intends to bring the solution to a cluster of additional Q400s flying as Air Canada Express.

Equipage of Starlink to the Q400 turboprop marks the first De Havilland Canada aircraft in the world to be fitted with an IFC solution capable of delivering gate-to-gate high-speed Internet access.

The service will be offered for free to Air Canada’s loyalty members, as sponsored by Bell, and is expected to go live in October.

Initially, Q400s flying from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to Montreal and Ottawa will be fitted with the solution. “The installation of Wi-Fi on the balance of the Dash 8-400 fleet is being determined,” Air Canada says in a statement.

The airline has already fitted 97% of its mainline Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge aircraft with next-generation IFC systems. An upgraded version of Intelsat-now-SES’s 2Ku hardware is installed on the mainline fleet whilst regional jets are being fitted with SES’s multi-orbit LEO/GEO solution. Air Canada expects to complete this fleet-wide transformation in 2026.

The Starlink IFC package is being offered by De Havilland Canada as both a linefit and retrofit option.

“Starlink will be available as a ‘factory option’ through De Havilland Canada’s OEM Refurbishment Program or as a retrofit solution for in-service Dash 8-400 aircraft,” says the OEM.

Other Q400 operators are expected to soon follow Air Canada’s lead.

The addition of Starlink on some Q400s is part of a broader package of improvements coming to the aircraft. Air Canada announced today that 25 Q400s operating as Air Canada Express by Jazz Aviation will undergo a full cabin redesign to install new Expliseat seats and new interiors including fresh color, materials and finish (CMF).

That’s a notable win for Expliseat which recently signaled it would double down on its commitment to the North American market.

“The seats will feature new branding and design language expressed through the seat’s dress cover. All seats will include a seatback multi-use device holder for tablets and phones, as well as a table tray,” explains Air Canada.

“The installation of the new seating has an expected completion date for the program in mid-2026. Each aircraft will have 78 seats, and pitch will be unchanged.”