Welcome to this pre-FR flight report series of my 2023 Europe trip, where I try to show as much footage I took during my flights as possible.
Flight routing
- 1AC8672 - Economy - Raleigh > Montreal - Embraer E-175
- 2
- 3LX977 - Economy - Berlin > Zurich - Airbus A320
- 4AC881 - Business - Zurich > Toronto - Boeing 777-300ER
- 5AC8838 - Economy - Toronto > Raleigh - Mitsubishi CRJ900
RDU AIRPORT
Welcome to RDU Airport!
Air Canada check in.
Gate area.
If you can see through the window lines, that's the plane taking me to Montreal: C-FEKS, which as of September 2025 is a 20-year-old E175, delivered new to Air Canada on December 6, 2005. It was transferred to Sky Regional and began operating under the "Express" brand on May 2, 2013. When Sky Regional ceased operations in 2021, it was then moved to Jazz Aviation, who has operated this plane since, still under the "Express" brand.
Let's board!
ONBOARD
Welcome onboard Air Canada Express' E175, with 12 business class seats and 64 economy seats. I will be seated in 17A for this flight.
At the time, the seats were fitted with a Thales TopFlight i4500 IFE system, although I'm pretty sure that the systems have been (or are being) deactivated on the E175s. There's also a USB-A port, which has been destroyed.
Window view (excuse the black bar).
Air Canada's (great) safety video played, showing all provinces of Canada.
Afterwards, the IFE was activated, here's the map.
Some AC IFE programming.
Taxiing to runway 5L.
DEPARTURE
Goodbye NC!
IN-FLIGHT
Short-haul AC service was more basic back in 2023, with just a drink, although snacks have been added afterwards. I went for a ginger ale.
Wing view.
Little cabin view.
IFE tutorial.
Almost there!
The beginning of a sunset over the Canadian skies.
ARRIVAL
Seatbelt signs are on, marking the start of descent.
Quebec comes closer into view.
On approach.
Welcome to Montreal!
Many AC heavies (and others)!
Sunwing, an airline that no longer exists.
Leaving for customs and on to my next flight!
Hi Ryan, thanks for sharing this AC report. E175s are always comfortable in their 2-2 configuration with good pitch. While these cabins were industry leading ~20 years ago with their IFE, they are definitely showing their age against their newer B737/A220 products. I'm assuming these older planes were not retrofitted with the connectivity for the free Wi-Fi they offer now?