132
Active Routes1982
Flight Observations43
Unique Destinations53
Origin Airports1420
Avg Route Distance (mi)2608
Longest Route (mi)4
Domestic Routes96
International RoutesAir Canada Rouge (ICAO: ROU) is a Canadian low-cost airline and a subsidiary of Air Canada, primarily catering to leisure travelers.
Air Canada Rouge was established in December 2012 and commenced operations on July 1, 2013, as a strategic initiative by its parent company, Air Canada, to more effectively compete in the leisure and vacation travel market. The airline is designed to offer more affordable flights to popular vacation destinations.
The airline's main operational bases are at Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL) and Toronto–Pearson International Airport (YYZ). Looking ahead, Air Canada Rouge is set to open a new crew base at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) by 2026, which will support expanded service, particularly to the Hawaiian Islands and other West Coast routes.
Currently, Air Canada Rouge operates a fleet primarily composed of Airbus A319-100, Airbus A320-200, and Airbus A321-200 aircraft. However, a significant fleet transition is underway: by the end of 2026, Air Canada Rouge will move to an all-Boeing 737 MAX 8 fleet. This modernized fleet will feature 12 Business Class seats, 18 Preferred extra legroom Economy seats, and 147 Standard Economy seats. The existing Airbus aircraft will be transferred to the Air Canada mainline fleet. The airline's route network focuses on leisure destinations across the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, and the United States. While it previously served some European and Asian destinations, these were largely discontinued after the retirement of its Boeing 767-300ERs. Air Canada Rouge is an affiliate member of Star Alliance, aligning with its parent company Air Canada's membership in the global airline alliance. For services, the airline offers two primary cabin classes: Premium Rouge, which provides larger seats, increased legroom, priority airport services, and premium meals, and Economy Rouge, featuring contemporary seating and access to streaming in-flight entertainment. The transitioning Boeing 737 MAX 8 fleet will enhance the passenger experience with personal on-demand entertainment screens at every seat and complimentary Wi-Fi for Aeroplan members.
Traveler reviews for Air Canada Rouge are generally mixed, reflecting both appreciation for its value-oriented approach and criticisms regarding certain aspects of the travel experience. The overall sentiment is average.
What Travelers Love:
Common Complaints:
Overall, Air Canada Rouge is seen as a viable option for budget-conscious leisure travelers, particularly those willing to compromise on certain amenities for lower fares or upgrade to Premium Rouge for a more comfortable experience. The upcoming fleet modernization is expected to address several long-standing criticisms regarding in-flight entertainment and connectivity.
Air Canada Rouge operates as a subsidiary of Air Canada, Canada's flag carrier, and thus benefits from the robust safety and reliability standards of its parent company. Air Canada has historically maintained a strong safety record.
While no major crashes or fatalities directly attributed to Air Canada Rouge are reported in the available information, some recent incidents have been noted. These include reports of a radar altimeter malfunction in February 2025, spurious failures of displays, communication, and lighting in August 2025, engine trouble in May 2025, and an odor on board in April 2025. Additionally, a traveler in December 2024 reported multiple safety concerns on a single flight, including a blocked safety demonstration, an abrupt taxiing maneuver, and a hard landing. These incidents appear to be operational occurrences rather than major accidents.
As part of Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge adheres to Canadian aviation regulations and operates under the broader safety framework of a Star Alliance member, implying compliance with international aviation safety standards. Specific individual regulatory certifications like IOSA for Air Canada Rouge are not explicitly detailed in the provided snippets, but Air Canada's membership in Star Alliance typically signifies adherence to such global operational safety audits.
The current Air Canada Rouge fleet comprises Airbus A319, A320, and A321 aircraft. Some traveler reviews have highlighted the perceived age and wear of older aircraft in the fleet. However, Air Canada is implementing a significant fleet modernization program. By the end of 2026, Air Canada Rouge will transition to an all-Boeing 737 MAX 8 fleet. This move will replace older Airbus A320-family aircraft, which average 17.9 years in age, with newer, more fuel-efficient Boeing 737 MAX jets. This modernization is expected to enhance the overall fleet age and maintenance profile, contributing to improved operational efficiency and passenger experience.
Based on available data, Air Canada Rouge maintains an acceptable safety record, operating under the established safety protocols of Air Canada. While minor operational incidents occur, there is no indication of systemic safety issues. The ongoing fleet renewal program with newer aircraft is poised to further strengthen its safety assessment and enhance reliability. No specific safety awards or recognitions for Air Canada Rouge itself were found.
| Route | Destination | Flights | Distance | Aircraft | Last Seen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YXE → YYZ |
Toronto Pearson Int'l
Toronto
|
227 | 1375 mi | A319 | Feb 11, 2026 |
| YQT → YYZ |
Toronto Pearson Int'l
Toronto
|
118 | 567 mi | A319 | Feb 11, 2026 |
| YYG → YYZ |
Toronto Pearson Int'l
Toronto
|
109 | 826 mi | A319 | Feb 12, 2026 |
| YQM → YYZ |
Toronto Pearson Int'l
Toronto
|
100 | 751 mi | A319 | Feb 12, 2026 |
| YQR → YYZ |
Toronto Pearson Int'l
Toronto
|
74 | 1261 mi | A319 | Oct 26, 2025 |
| YLW → YYZ |
Toronto Pearson Int'l
Toronto
|
70 | 1907 mi | A319 | Feb 10, 2026 |
| PUJ → YYZ |
Toronto Pearson Int'l
Toronto
|
65 | 1856 mi | A321 | Jan 31, 2026 |
| UVF → YYZ |
Toronto Pearson Int'l
Toronto
|
65 | 2348 mi | A319 | Feb 12, 2026 |
| YQM → YUL |
Montreal-Trudeau
Montreal
|
63 | 439 mi | A319 | Feb 3, 2026 |
| YYJ → YYZ |
Toronto Pearson Int'l
Toronto
|
54 | 2197 mi | A321 | Jan 13, 2026 |
| YYZ → MCO |
Orlando Intl
Orlando
|
53 | 1059 mi | A319 | Feb 12, 2026 |
| YYZ → CUN |
Cancun Int'l
Cancun
|
50 | 1839 mi | A321 | Jan 18, 2026 |
| YDF → YYZ |
Toronto Pearson Int'l
Toronto
|
41 | 1122 mi | A319 | Oct 24, 2025 |
| YUL → YQB |
Quebec/Jean Lesage Int'l
Quebec City
|
37 | 145 mi | A319 | Feb 9, 2026 |
| YYG → YUL |
Montreal-Trudeau
Montreal
|
37 | 514 mi | A319 | Sep 30, 2025 |
| YUL → MCO |
Orlando Intl
Orlando
|
33 | 1249 mi | A321 | Feb 10, 2026 |
| VRA → YUL |
Montreal-Trudeau
Montreal
|
32 | 1611 mi | A319 | Feb 6, 2026 |
| PUJ → YUL |
Montreal-Trudeau
Montreal
|
30 | 1886 mi | A319 | Jan 28, 2026 |
| YYT → YYZ |
Toronto Pearson Int'l
Toronto
|
29 | 1321 mi | A321 | Sep 6, 2025 |
| CUN → YYZ |
Toronto Pearson Int'l
Toronto
|
29 | 1621 mi | A321 | Jan 31, 2026 |
| YYT → YUL |
Montreal-Trudeau
Montreal
|
27 | 1006 mi | A321 | Oct 21, 2025 |
| YUL → FLL |
Fort Lauderdale Intl
Fort Lauderdale
|
26 | 1388 mi | A321 | Jan 26, 2026 |
| MCO → YYZ |
Toronto Pearson Int'l
Toronto
|
25 | 1059 mi | A321 | Feb 11, 2026 |
| GCM → YYZ |
Toronto Pearson Int'l
Toronto
|
25 | 1690 mi | A319 | Oct 23, 2025 |
| BDA → YYZ |
Toronto Pearson Int'l
Toronto
|
22 | 1126 mi | A319 | Sep 13, 2025 |
Airline statistics are based on flight route observations collected from FlightAware AeroAPI and other sources. Flight counts represent observed operations, not scheduled frequencies. Route data is continuously updated as new flight information becomes available.