Jazz Aviation
Canadian regional airline that operates scheduled and charter flying, primarily for Air Canada under the Air Canada Express brand.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Jazz Aviation LP is a Canadian regional airline headquartered at Halifax Stanfield International Airport in Enfield, Nova Scotia. It is wholly owned by Chorus Aviation and is principally an operating partner of Air Canada. Most of its scheduled flying is performed under the Air Canada Express brand through a capacity purchase agreement under which Air Canada determines the network, schedules and commercial framework while purchasing Jazz's available seat capacity at predetermined rates. Jazz therefore functions less like a conventional independent network carrier and more like a large-scale regional operating platform integrated into Air Canada's domestic and cross-border system. The airline emerged from the consolidation of several Air Canada Connector carriers. Air BC, Air Nova, Air Ontario and Canadian Regional Airlines were brought together through a corporate reorganization initiated in 2001, following the combination of Air Canada and Canadian Airlines. The consolidated operation adopted the Air Canada Jazz identity in 2002. The business was later separated from Air Canada's ownership structure. In 2006, Air Canada Jazz assets were divested by ACE Aviation Holdings, and the airline became associated with Jazz Air Income Fund, whose units traded publicly. In 2010, the organization was reorganized as Chorus Aviation, a public company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, with Jazz Aviation continuing as its airline subsidiary. During 2011, Air Canada retired the Air Canada Jazz name as its regional umbrella brand and introduced Air Canada Express, although Jazz continued to operate the flights and retained its own corporate identity. Jazz operates turboprop and regional jet aircraft, historically including Bombardier CRJ and Dash 8 families and Embraer 175 aircraft transferred into its operation. Its route system has served roughly 70 destinations in Canada and the United States, with major bases or hubs at Halifax, Toronto Pearson, Vancouver, Victoria, Montréal–Trudeau and Calgary. The fleet and network have changed repeatedly as Air Canada and Chorus have adjusted regional capacity, aircraft economics and operator allocation. In 2021, Air Canada consolidated its regional flying with Jazz after ending the separate Sky Regional arrangement, transferring Embraer 175 aircraft to Jazz and making Jazz the principal operator of Air Canada Express regional services. In addition to scheduled regional flying, Jazz has operated charter and contract services. Its Jazz Charters activities have included seasonal vacation flying for Thomas Cook Canada, using leased Boeing 757 aircraft for routes from Canadian cities to destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. Jazz also acquired a minority interest in the Latin American Regional Aviation Holding Corporation in 2010; that investment was connected to PLUNA, Uruguay's former flag carrier, which suspended operations in 2012. Jazz's market position is based on operational scale, regional connectivity and long-term contractual integration with Air Canada rather than on a distinct consumer-facing network brand. It has been described as one of Canada's largest airlines by fleet size, while its passenger totals, employee count and destination count differ from those of the country's largest mainline carriers. Its Air Canada Express flights generally provide economy service on turboprops and regional jets, with business-class seating available on selected CRJ900 and Embraer 175 aircraft. The company remains an active regional airline and an important provider of feeder capacity for Air Canada's national network.
History
Jazz Aviation developed from the regional airline network assembled around Air Canada and Canadian Airlines at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Air Canada Regional Inc. was established in 2001 through the consolidation of Air BC, Air Nova, Air Ontario and Canadian Regional Airlines. The combination followed the merger of Air Canada and Canadian Airlines and was intended to bring multiple regional operators under a more coherent operating structure. The consolidated business adopted the Air Canada Jazz identity in 2002, presenting regional flights as a coordinated extension of Air Canada's mainline network. The airline's ownership changed significantly in the middle of the decade. In 2006, ACE Aviation Holdings, then associated with Air Canada, sold its Air Canada Jazz assets. The airline subsequently operated as an independent business connected with Jazz Air Income Fund. The income fund completed an initial public offering in February 2006, and its units traded under JAZ.UN. This separation created a distinct regional airline company even though Air Canada remained its principal commercial customer. Jazz's independent period included several changes in facilities, contracts and operations. In 2006, a dispute concerning terminal-space arrangements at Toronto City Centre Airport contributed to the cancellation of Jazz service there. The airport later became a major base for Porter Airlines. Jazz also undertook non-core charter work. In 2010, it reached an agreement with Thomas Cook Group to operate Boeing 757 aircraft for seasonal vacation services after the collapse of Skyservice, which had previously flown for Thomas Cook in Canada. The resulting Thomas Cook Canada operation began in November 2010 and served leisure destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America from Toronto, Halifax, Calgary and Vancouver. Although the agreement was initially extended toward 2015, Thomas Cook Canada terminated the remaining portion of the arrangement in 2012, ending the service on April 30 of that year. The corporate structure was reorganized in November 2010. Jazz Aviation's parent became Chorus Aviation, a public corporation traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange as CHR. Jazz remained the operating airline subsidiary. In 2011, Air Canada introduced Air Canada Express as an umbrella brand for regional operators and gradually withdrew the Air Canada Jazz name and livery. Jazz continued to manage and operate a substantial portion of those flights, but its corporate identity became less visible to passengers because the aircraft and schedules were presented primarily as Air Canada Express services. Fleet development has been closely tied to the Air Canada relationship. Jazz received its first Bombardier CRJ705 in 2005 and operated CRJ100, CRJ200, CRJ705 and later CRJ900 regional jets. In 2010 it ordered Q400 NextGen turboprops, configured for 74 passengers, to replace older regional jets and improve economics on shorter routes. In 2016, the remaining CRJ705 aircraft were slated for conversion to CRJ900 configuration. In 2019, Chorus and Air Canada extended their capacity purchase agreement through 2035 and added plans for 14 CRJ900 aircraft. In 2021, Air Canada consolidated its regional flying with Jazz and transferred Embraer 175 aircraft from Sky Regional Airlines, reinforcing Jazz's position as Air Canada's principal regional operator. Jazz also made an international investment outside its core Canadian operation. In 2010, it acquired a one-third interest in the Latin American Regional Aviation Holding Corporation, which held a 75 percent interest in Uruguay's PLUNA, with the remainder owned by the Uruguayan government. PLUNA suspended all flights in July 2012 while seeking a new partner or a possible sale; the episode ended the practical continuity of that airline's operations. Operationally, Jazz serves Canadian and United States destinations from a network centered on Halifax, Toronto Pearson, Vancouver, Victoria, Montréal–Trudeau and Calgary. Its aircraft generally provide two-class or all-economy regional cabins depending on type. Selected CRJ900 and Embraer 175 aircraft offer Air Canada's North American business-class product, while turboprops and smaller regional jets are generally configured entirely for economy. Air Canada Express services include complimentary drinks and snacks, with buy-on-board offerings on longer flights. Jazz remains active as a contract regional carrier whose principal strategic asset is its long-term relationship with Air Canada rather than an independently marketed intercontinental network.
- 2024
Dash 8-400 seat retrofit announced
[1]Jazz announced a plan with Expliseat to retrofit 25 Dash 8-400 aircraft.
- 2021
Regional flying consolidated with Jazz
[1]Air Canada transferred Embraer 175 aircraft from Sky Regional and consolidated its regional operation with Jazz.
- 2019
Capacity purchase agreement extended to 2035
[1]Chorus Aviation announced a long-term extension with Air Canada and plans for 14 additional CRJ900 aircraft.
- 2011
Air Canada Express replaced Air Canada Jazz as the regional customer brand
[1]Air Canada began phasing out the Air Canada Jazz name and livery while Jazz continued as an operator.
- 2010
Corporate reorganization as Chorus Aviation
[1]The parent organization was restructured as Chorus Aviation and listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
- 2010
Q400 NextGen order
[1]Jazz ordered 15 Q400 NextGen turboprops, with options for an additional 15 aircraft.
- 2006
Jazz became an independent public income-fund business
[1]ACE Aviation Holdings divested Air Canada Jazz assets, and Jazz Air Income Fund completed a public offering.
- 2005
First CRJ705 delivery
[1]Jazz received its first Bombardier CRJ705 regional jet.
- 2002
The Air Canada Jazz brand was introduced
[1]The consolidated regional operation began using the Air Canada Jazz identity.
- 2001
Air Canada Regional Inc. was established
[1]Air BC, Air Nova, Air Ontario and Canadian Regional Airlines were consolidated into a new regional airline structure.
Products and positioning
A large Canadian regional airline focused on contracted feeder flying, operational reliability and connectivity between Air Canada's hubs and smaller markets.
Scheduled regional passenger service · 2011
Air Canada Express regional flights
Jazz operates the majority of its scheduled passenger flying for Air Canada under the Air Canada Express brand. Air Canada controls the commercial network and schedule through the capacity purchase agreement, while Jazz supplies aircraft, crews and operational execution. The network links Air Canada's major hubs with smaller cities in Canada and selected United States destinations, using regional jets and turboprops.
Charter airline service
Jazz Charters
Jazz Charters is the airline's charter and contract-service activity. It has supported seasonal and specialist flying outside the regular Air Canada Express network, including leisure services operated for tour operators and other commercial partners.
Regional turboprop aircraft operation · 2011
Bombardier Q400
Jazz's Q400 operation supports short- and medium-distance regional routes where turboprop economics are appropriate. The aircraft were introduced to replace older CRJ100 and CRJ200 aircraft and were delivered in Air Canada Express colors. The type is configured for an all-economy regional cabin.
Regional jet operation · 2016
Bombardier CRJ900
The CRJ900 is one of Jazz's principal regional jet types and is used on higher-volume or longer regional routes. Some aircraft offer a premium cabin aligned with Air Canada's North American business-class product, while other aircraft have simplified interiors. Jazz expanded this fleet through the conversion of CRJ705 aircraft and later acquisition plans.
Regional jet operation · 2021
Embraer 175
Embraer 175 aircraft became part of Jazz's operation after Air Canada consolidated regional flying with Jazz in 2021 and transferred aircraft from Sky Regional Airlines. The type provides a larger regional-jet cabin and can support two-class Air Canada Express service.
Seasonal leisure charter · 2010
Thomas Cook Canada charter services
From late 2010 until April 2012, Jazz operated seasonal Boeing 757 charter flights for Thomas Cook Canada. The service connected Toronto, Halifax, Calgary and Vancouver with vacation destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America.
Brand decisions
2024
Dash 8-400 interior modernizationGeneration changeBackground
Jazz sought to update the passenger cabin and reduce interior weight on part of its turboprop fleet.
Action taken
Jazz and Expliseat announced a retrofit of 25 Dash 8-400 aircraft with TiSeat 2X seats.
Aftermath
The planned retrofit was intended to modernize the cabin while supporting operating-efficiency objectives.
2021
Consolidation of Air Canada's regional flyingStrategyBackground
Air Canada ended its separate regional arrangement with Sky Regional Airlines.
Action taken
Regional flying was consolidated with Jazz, and Embraer 175 aircraft were transferred from Sky Regional to Jazz.
Aftermath
Jazz became the principal operator of Air Canada's consolidated regional network.
2019
Long-term extension of the Air Canada capacity purchase agreementStrategyBackground
Jazz's business model depends heavily on contracted flying for Air Canada, making the duration of the capacity purchase agreement central to fleet and network planning.
Action taken
Chorus Aviation and Air Canada extended the agreement through 2035 and added plans for 14 CRJ900 aircraft.
Aftermath
The extension gave Jazz a long contractual planning horizon and reinforced its role as Air Canada's main regional operator.
2016
CRJ705 aircraft conversion to CRJ900 configurationGeneration changeBackground
The CRJ705 fleet was closely related to the CRJ900 platform and could be converted to provide a more standardized regional-jet operation.
Action taken
Jazz announced that its remaining CRJ705 aircraft would be converted to CRJ900s.
Aftermath
The decision simplified fleet positioning and aligned the aircraft with the CRJ900 product used in the Air Canada Express network.
2011
Transition from Air Canada Jazz to Air Canada ExpressStrategyBackground
Air Canada introduced a single umbrella brand for regional flying after awarding some regional capacity to multiple operators.
Action taken
Air Canada phased out the Air Canada Jazz name and livery and marketed Jazz-operated flights as Air Canada Express.
Aftermath
Jazz retained the operating business, but its independent consumer-facing brand became less prominent.
2010
Q400 fleet introductionProduct launchBackground
Jazz sought to replace older CRJ100 and CRJ200 aircraft with more efficient turboprops for appropriate regional routes.
Action taken
The airline ordered 15 Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft, with options for 15 additional aircraft.
Aftermath
The Q400s entered service in Air Canada Express colors and became an important part of the regional fleet.
2008
Removal of life jackets from aircraftStrategyBackground
Jazz stated that its regional routes generally remained close to land and that the probability of a water landing was extremely low.
Action taken
The airline removed life jackets from its aircraft and relied on floating seat cushions, citing fuel savings and applicable operating rules.
Aftermath
The measure attracted public attention because it changed the aircraft's flotation equipment, although Jazz said the configuration complied with the applicable regulatory framework.
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