Air Canada has announced it is re-configuring the cabins of three of its Boeing 777-300er aircraft, to give them additional cargo capacity.

The first aircraft conversion is complete and is now in service, with the second and third aircraft to be completed shortly.

The conversions, look to bring critical medical and vital supplies rapidly to Canada, to help distribute them across the country and combat the COVID-19 crisis.

The transformation doubles the capacity of each flight of the aircraft that would have likely been parked otherwise.

422 passenger seats were removed and designated cargo loading zones were added for light weight boxes containing medical equipment and restrained with cargo nets. Air Canada has operated 40 all-cargo flights since March 22nd and plans to operate up to 20 all-cargo flights per week.