The E-190 was the ideal platform to provide mainline service on thinner domestic and international routes in Air Canada's network. Originally slated to be removed from the fleet by mid-2019, Air Canada ended up retaining their E-190 fleet along with several other aircraft types that were to retire in order to maintain capacity following unfortunate circumstances caused by the Boeing 737 MAX groundings following the two deadly crashes of the type that occurred in Indonesia and Ethiopia; Air Canada operated over 20 737 MAX 8 airframes up until the groundings. The E-190 retirement (among other aircraft) has finally been accelerated in order to reduce airline operating expenses due to the ongoing global health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time of reduced operations, Air Canada intends to replace their E-190s over time with the Airbus A220-300 (formerly the Bombardier CS300). The grounded 737 MAX is also slated to take on the bulk of Air Canada's narrow-body operations, assuming the type returns to service in the future and public confidence in it has been restored.
I was fortunate to have photographed a few of Air Canada's Embraer E-190s when they were still in operation:
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| Air Canada Embraer ERJ-190-100IGW E-190AR (C-FHKE). |
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| Air Canada Embraer ERJ-190-100IGW E-190AR (C-FHOY). |
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| Air Canada Embraer ERJ-190-100IGW E-190AR (C-FHKI). |
With that, we bid a fond farewell to Air Canada's smallest mainline jet. The planes are still fairly young, so it's hoped that they will find a place with another operator through the secondary market, but during these unusual times of reduced air travel and airline operations, only time will tell.
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