Air Canada Rouge to remove middle seat in business class

Air Canada's discount leisure airline Rouge will makeits premium cabin up front feel a lot more like first class, removing the middle seat on each side, and adding almost a third more carry-on space.

Next month, Rouge will convert its fleet of20 Airbus A319 aircraft into a new configuration that willremovethe middle seat on each side in the first three aisles, and widen the two remaining seats. The space created will be usedfor:

• An entertainmentconsole with a charger andUSB port.
• A pop-out cocktail tray between the two seats.
• A coat hook at every seat.

"AirCanadahas listened to its customers and is pleased to announce product investments in the Air Canada Rouge fleet," said Benjamin Smith, Air Canada's president of passenger airlines.

The airline is also increasing carry-on spaceby 30 per cent with the installation of new overhead bin doors dubbed "pillow doors" because of their curved shape which allow carry-on items to be stowed more efficiently. The installation takes place this summer.

Ticket prices, of course, are also expected to risealong with the new amenities. But what the airline has managed to do is effectively create a first-class option for the airline it originally created for discount-oriented passengers.

The changes come at a time when Rouge is flying to more destinations.

Originally launched in July 2013 with two planes, Rouge has grown tohave 31 aircraft and flies to50 leisure destinations on 68 routes in Europe, Mexico, the U.S., the Caribbean, Asia, South America and Canada.

To many destinations, an Air Canada traveller has no choice but to flyon Rouge.

WestJet also changing

The move to beef up Air Canada's premium offering comes on the heels of a similar move, announced earlier this month and set to be implemented later this summer,by Calgary-based WestJet. WestJetwill equip its fleet of Boeing 737s with anew tray table between the aisle and window seat, giving guests a guaranteed empty middle seat for more space to work or relax during their flight.

Premium seats at the fronton Boeing 767s will also be wider, and arranged in a 2-2-2configuration not the rows of three that travellers had gotten used to.

Although WestJet acknowledges fares will be higher than regular ones, it claims prices will be as much as75 per cent cheaper than comparable offerings at other airlines.