Mongu,

Yes, Air Canada. One of the key strategies in their effort to emerge from bankruptcy is to follow the lead of US Airways and purchase a large amount (rumoured to be around 85) of 70 seat regional jets. They are also said to be looking at purchasing a number of 115 seat jets. At this point the favourite seems to be the B717 which to me seems a bit ironic as Air Canada just finished retiring their DC-9s not too long ago. Another proposal has also been put forward by ALPA, representing the Air Canada Jazz pilots, that would have the airline ending its subcontracting of Tier 3 services by purchasing up to 32 Beech 1900Ds by 2009. It has been suggested that Air Canada will use the fleet expansion as a bargaining chip in its negotiations with its current aircraft leasors. Of course at this stage, everything is subject to change so what will happen in the end, who knows?