Fly the Flag: Air Canada Unveils Celebratory Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Team Livery Featuring Canadian Athletes Headed to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games

Executive Summary

• Air Canada unveiled a special “Team Canada” livery on its Airbus A330 (Fin 940) to honor Canadian Olympians and Paralympians heading to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games.
• The airline will transport more than 750 athletes and delegation members for the Games, continuing its role as Official Airline of Team Canada through the 2028 and 2030 Olympics.
• Eight high‑profile Canadian athletes were named “Team Air Canada Athlete Ambassadors,” and team members will receive complimentary Aeroplan status upgrades and travel perks.

Key Details

• Livery Launch: Special design featuring images of the eight Athlete Ambassadors applied to Fin 940, an Airbus A330; first flight AC894 departed for Milan on the day of the announcement.
• Athlete Transport Commitment: Over 750 athletes and delegation members will be flown to and from the Milano Cortina 2026 Games under Air Canada’s “Going for Gold” program.
• Athlete Ambassadors Named:
• Marie‑Philip Poulin – Ice Hockey (Beauceville, Québec)
• Mikaël Kingsbury – Freestyle Skiing (Sainte‑Agathe‑des‑Mont, Québec)
• William Dandjinou – Speed Skating (Sherbrooke, Québec)
• Cassie Sharpe – Freestyle Skiing (Vancouver, BC)
• Tyler McGregor – Para Ice Hockey (Forest, Ontario)
• Ina Forrest – Wheelchair Curling (Spallumcheen, BC)
• Alexis Guimond – Para‑Alpine Skiing (Gatineau, Québec)
• Mollie Jepsen – Para‑Alpine Skiing (West Vancouver, BC)
• Athlete Benefits: Complimentary Aeroplan status equivalent to “35K” tier and a grant of 10,000 Aeroplan points per athlete; “Care & Share” packages including amenity kits and memorabilia.
• Partnership Duration: Air Canada’s official airline partnership with the Canadian Olympic Team (since 1988) and Paralympic Team (since 2007) will continue through the 2028 and 2030 Games, with additional athlete endorsements planned.
• Quotes:
• Andy Shibata, VP‑Brand, Air Canada – highlighted the livery as a tribute to athletes’ strength and resilience.
• Jacqueline Ryan, COC Chief Brand & Commercial Officer – praised the design for inspiring Canadians ahead of the Games.
• Karen O'Neill, CEO, Canadian Paralympic Committee – thanked Air Canada for its commitment to athlete comfort and support.

Notable Quotes

• “This special livery is more than a design – it’s a tribute to the strength, resilience, and heart of the athletes representing Team Canada.” – Andy Shibata, Vice President, Brand, Air Canada
• “Air Canada has been a longtime supporter of Team Canada… the new livery will no doubt inspire Canadians and help rally us all together on the road to Milano Cortina 2026.” – Jacqueline Ryan, Chief Brand and Commercial Officer, COC

Materiality Assessment: Non‑Material – Positive (branding initiative with limited direct financial impact).