Air Canada is Canada’s largest full-service airline and the largest provider of scheduled passenger services in the Canadian market, the Canada-U.S. transborder market and in the international market to and from Canada. Together with its Air Canada Express regional affiliates, Air Canada serves over 32 million customers annually and provides direct passenger service to over 175 destinations on five continents. Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance, providing the world's most comprehensive air transportation network.

Air Canada has an extensive global network, with hubs in four major Canadian cities (Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary), offering scheduled passenger jet service directly to 60 Canadian cities, 59 destinations in the United States and 64 cities in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Mexico and South America. Air Canada and Jazz operate 1,470 scheduled flights each day on average. Through its strategic and commercial arrangements with the Star Alliance network, Air Canada offers service to over 1,185destinations in 185 countries and provides top tier frequent flyer benefits.

Air Canada's predecessor, Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) inaugurated its first flight on September 1, 1937. By 1964, TCA had grown to become Canada's national airline; it changed its name to Air Canada. The airline became fully privatised in 1989. In 2000, Air Canada acquired Canadian Airlines International. Today, Air Canada is the 13th largest commercial airline in the world, with approximately 23,500 full-time equivalent employees. Air Canada shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol “AC-B.TO”.

For 2011, Air Canada has been ranked ‘Best International Airline in North America’ in the Skytrax World Airline Awards. It was also named “Best Airline in North America” by Global Traveler magazine and recognized for “Best In-Flight Services in North America”, “Best Flight Attendants in North America”, “Best North American Airline for Business Class Service”, “Best North American Airline for International Travel” and “Best Airline Website” by Business Traveler Magazine. In 2011 it was also named the preferred airline by Canadian business travelers in an independent national travel survey.