Renowned Air Canada photographer Brian Losito retires after 36-year career

In March 2023, Air Canada announced that its well-known corporate photographer, Brian Losito, is retiring. Concluding a 36-year career with Canada’s flag carrier, Losito is only the third corporate photographer to work for Air Canada in its more than 85-year history.

“His career has spanned 10 CEOs, more than a dozen different aircraft types, and several iterations of the iconic Air Canada livery,” the airline said. “His award-winning images have told the story of Air Canada. Through his eyes, the world has come to know the airline’s people, aircraft, products and services in advertising, posters, corporate magazines, annual reports, and social media channels.”

Throughout his career with Air Canada, Losito has participated in 10 air-to-air photography missions, and photographed 18 different aircraft types and eight different liveries with 10 different cameras (five film and five digital).

He shared that his favorite film camera was the Pentax 645, while his favorite digital camera is actually his current camera, the Nikon D4. Losito said the Nikon is rugged, durable, and delivers “outstanding image quality.”

Roughly five years ago, Losito participated in an air-to-air shoot to showcase Air Canada’s latest livery. He had the opportunity to sit in a Learjet photoship and fly in close formation with an Air Canada Boeing 787, capturing the aircraft from all angles. To wrap things up, he climbed aboard a chartered helicopter to capture close-ups of the 787 taking off and landing.

“This is the dream part of the job if you’re an aviation guy. . . . Planes are fun, and when you’re in the air, no one gets to do things like this. It’s extreme,” said Losito.

A highlight for the renowned photographer is photographing aircraft in beautiful landscapes. The 787 photoshoot, for instance, took place in Canada’s West Coast, with stunning scenery serving as the backdrop for photos.

“I want snow-capped mountains; I want the ocean; I would ideally like white fluffy clouds,” he said.

Reflecting on Losito’s career, Air Canada’s executive VP, chief human resources officer, and public affairs officer, Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, shared: “Brian has not only witnessed but actually participated in so much of Air Canada’s history, up close and personal. From capturing images of our aircraft during air-to-air photography, to the thousands of employees he has photographed working to serve our customers, his pictures have recorded and helped share our story.

“He is a rare individual who has excelled at what is probably one of the world’s rarest jobs, a full-time airline photographer,” she concluded.

Asked what he will miss most about the job, Losito said: “The people, the people you get to meet at Air Canada. Fantastic, inspiring people. Those people inspire me and it’s going to be the biggest challenge as I retire.”

Check out Brian Losito’s Instagram page for more of his outstanding photos from his career with Air Canada.