Air Canada pilots on what makes flying to Vancouver so awesome
Chief pilots Winston Ng and Scott Fines love the vibe, weather, and people—plus Vancouver's challenging approaches keep the job interesting.
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Winston Ng knew at a young age what he wanted to be. Today, as an assistant chief pilot for Air Canada's Airbus A320, he's living that childhood dream every single day.
"The best part of being an Air Canada pilot," Ng said, "is reliving my childhood dream every single day."
Ng was one of two pilots we spoke with at Air Canada's launch of its new Airbus A321XLR aircraft in June. The event included aircraft previews in major cities, including Air Canada's hangar at Vancouver International Airport (YVR). The new aircraft has 182 seats, including 14 lie-flat Air Canada Signature Class seats and 68 economy seats, with 36 preferred seats offering additional legroom. While it's not a big plane with first-class cabins, the journey between Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver is notably more comfortable in the premium seating options, and screens in all cabin classes are larger than competitors'.
I also chatted with Scott Fines, a chief pilot for Air Canada's Airbus A320, who hadn't flown the new aircraft yet but says he's always excited for new aircraft and challenging airports. "Believe it or not," Fines said, some airports are particularly tough to navigate. New York's La Guardia and San Francisco were especially challenging, he noted.
When asked about his favorite stories from a career flying for the country's flag carrier, Fines laughed. "There are just too many," he said. But he does enjoy Canadian layovers in Victoria and Vancouver. "The vibe, the weather, and the people make Vancouver awesome."
Ng seconded his colleague's sentiments, adding that the city was closer to his friends and family, making travel easier on days off. For both pilots, Vancouver represents something beyond just a destination on the map—it's a place where the job feels personal, where flying home means arriving somewhere worth being.
For travelers planning flights with Air Canada, these new aircraft represent a shift toward more comfortable long-haul options on key Canadian routes. But for the pilots themselves, the real draw is simpler: the people, the place, and the privilege of doing what they loved as kids.
