Air Canada to upgrade premium section on low-cost Rouge flights

Air Canada says it will upgrade the premium section of the Airbus A319 planes used on its low-cost Rouge network.

The airline will change the current three-abreast seating in the class – in which the middle seat is blocked – to a two-abreast configuration.

The new arrangement will give travellers more personal space and legroom, Air Canada said in a news release.

The airline has received heavy criticism online and elsewhere about the seats on Rouge, particularly the lack of legroom.

"Air Canada has listened to its customers and is pleased to announce product investments in the Air Canada Rouge fleet," Ben Smith, Air Canada's President of Passenger Airlines, said in the statement.

The airline also plans to install new overhead luggage bins on the A319 planes by installing new doors that will increase capacity by 30 per cent.

Rouge also flies Boeing 767 planes, which will receive an enhanced flight entertainment system that will also be installed on the A319s.