Air Canada rouge fleet will grow to serve Mexico, Florida, Las Vegas and
more of the Caribbean
MONTREAL, June 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - Air Canada today said that growth
of its leisure carrier subsidiary, Air Canada rouge, is on track to
expand to a total of 23 holiday destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico,
Florida and Las Vegas for its 2013-2014 winter season.
"We are delighted with the response to Air Canada rouge's inaugural
summer season as it prepares for take-off July 1st," said Calin
Rovinescu, President and Chief Executive Officer, in Toronto for a
pre-inaugural event with employees and media. "Our plans for growing
the Air Canada rouge fleet are on track to serve more holiday
destination markets where we can now compete on a more cost effective
basis operating our new leisure carrier, while leveraging the strength
of Air Canada Vacations. Once Air Canada rouge completes its inaugural
summer season to Edinburgh, Venice, Athens and a number of Caribbean
destinations, its flying will expand southward for the winter to an
additional 13 destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico and select U.S.
holiday markets. I would like to commend Michael Friisdahl and his team
at Air Canada rouge for overcoming the complexity and challenges of
launching a new carrier in record time with professionalism and an
impressive sense of purpose. I also congratulate the first Air Canada
rouge inflight graduating class who we expect will set an excellent
customer service standard for vacation travel."
"As new Boeing 777-300ER and 787 aircraft enter the Air Canada mainline
fleet, we intend to continue spooling up Air Canada rouge to reach a
total of up to 50 aircraft. The growth of our leisure carrier, in
tandem with the mainline fleet renewal and international network
expansion, is a key element of Air Canada's overall strategy for
sustainable, profitable growth, both at the mainline and leisure
carrier. With a renewed, more efficient fleet combined with our
award-winning product, Air Canada will be well positioned to expand its
mainline global network to new, higher business-demand destinations
while Air Canada rouge profitably expands Air Canada's presence on a
lower cost basis in current and future leisure markets that present new
opportunities," concluded Mr. Rovinescu.
Air Canada will take delivery of five new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft for
its mainline fleet between June 2013 and February 2014, and the first
three of 37 Boeing 787 aircraft by the summer of 2014. Air Canada is
scheduled to take delivery of seven 787 aircraft in 2014 and the
remaining 30 between 2015 and 2019.
Air Canada rouge's July 1 start-up fleet consisting of two Airbus A319
aircraft and two Boeing 767-300ER aircraft will grow to ten aircraft by
the end of 2013 with the addition of six Airbus A319 aircraft by
December 2013, and an additional four Airbus A319 aircraft by March
2014, for a total of 14 aircraft by the end of the 2013-2014 winter
season.
A number of popular holiday destinations currently served by Air
Canada's mainline carrier will be converted to Air Canada rouge service
on a phased-in basis beginning October 2013 through March 2014 as
additional aircraft are released by the mainline airline for operation
by its leisure carrier.
Air Canada rouge will operate flights to the following popular holiday
destinations for its 2013-2014 Winter Schedule. Flights are now
available for purchase at aircanada.com and through travel agents:
Mexico: flights from Toronto to Cancun, Puerto Vallarta*, Cabo San Lucas* and
Huatulco*, subject to government approval.
United States: flights from Toronto and Montreal to Orlando and Las Vegas, and from
Toronto to Sarasota*, Florida.
Caribbean: flights from Toronto to Montego Bay, Jamaica; Grenada*; St. Kitts*;
Grand Exuma, Bahamas; Curacao*, Netherlands Antilles; and La Romana*,
Dominican Republic. This is in addition to Air Canada rouge service
commencing with its summer 2013 schedule on July 1 from Toronto
year-round to 10 Caribbean and Central America destinations: Kingston,
Jamaica; the Dominican Republic (Punta Cana, Puerto Plata and Samana),
Cuba (Varadero, Cayo Coco, Holguin and Santa Clara) and Costa Rica (San
Jose and Liberia).
* Seasonal services where indicated. All other routes are year-round
services.
All flights will be operated using Airbus A319 aircraft, with the
exception of Toronto-Las Vegas and Toronto-Montego Bay flights that
will be operated with Boeing 767-300ER aircraft.
Air Canada rouge's Boeing 767-300ER aircraft feature a two-cabin
configuration with three customer comfort options including rouge,
rouge Plus with preferred seating with additional legroom, and,
beginning in winter 2013, Premium rouge offering both additional room
and enhanced service. The airline's Airbus A319 aircraft are
configured with rouge and rouge Plus preferred seating. All flights will offer customers streamed
wireless inflight entertainment, stylish and modern cabin interiors
with innovative new seats, and the ability to earn and redeem Aeroplan
miles. For more information and bookings, please visit: http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/rouge.html
About Air Canada
Air Canada is Canada's largest domestic and international airline
serving more than 175 destinations on five continents. Canada's flag
carrier is the 15th largest commercial airline in the world and in 2012
served close to 35 million customers. Air Canada provides scheduled
passenger service directly to 59 Canadian cities, 53 destinations in
the United States and 67 cities in Europe, the Middle East, Asia,
Australia, the Caribbean, Mexico and South America. Air Canada is a
founding member of Star Alliance, the world's most comprehensive air
transportation network serving 1,328 destinations in 195 countries.
Air Canada is the only international network carrier in North America
to receive a Four-Star ranking according to independent U.K. research
firm Skytrax that ranked Air Canada in a worldwide survey of more than
18 million airline passengers as Best Airline in North America in 2013
for the fourth consecutive year. For more information, please visit: www.aircanada.com.
About Air Canada rouge
Air Canada rouge is Air Canada's new leisure airline, part of the new
Air Canada Leisure Group, along with Air Canada Vacations. Air Canada
rouge will operate a fleet of Boeing 767-300ER and Airbus A319 aircraft
sporting an attractive new livery and interior, designed to reflect the
airline's relaxed friendly ambience. Initially flights will operate
from Toronto and Montreal to vacation spots in Europe and the
Caribbean. Air Canada rouge is the only leisure airline that offers a
full network of connecting flights, Aeroplan Miles with every flight as
well as redemption, and Air Canada Vacations package holidays or
flight-only options. With all of these customer benefits, Air Canada
rouge will be leading the way in leisure travel. Vacation ahead with Air Canada rouge. For more information visit: http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/media/rouge/index.html
About Air Canada Vacations
Air Canada Vacations is a leading Canadian tour operator offering a wide
assortment of leisure travel packages, cruises, and flights to
destinations around the world. A repeat recipient of the Consumer's
Choice Award for Best Travel Wholesaler, Air Canada Vacations services
over 100 destinations in the Caribbean, Central & South America, Asia,
Europe, and in the U.S. And now, Air Canada Vacations will feature Air
Canada rouge on several of its top vacation routes. For more
information, visit www.aircanadavacations.com
SOURCE Air Canada