MONTREAL, Oct. 8, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada announced today it is
boosting its international Summer 2014 services to Europe from Montreal
with the launch of seasonal non-stop flights between Montreal and Nice,
France and the re-introduction of Montreal-Barcelona service. Flights
will be operated by Air Canada's leisure carrier subsidiary, Air Canada
rouge. In addition, the airline will expand the availability of its new
international Premium Economy cabin with its introduction on
Montreal-London Heathrow flights during the peak summer travel season.
Air Canada will also deploy larger aircraft from its international
widebody fleet on flights from Montreal to Brussels and Geneva in order
to meet travel and cargo demand during the summer.
Seats on these new Air Canada and Air Canada rouge flights are now
available for purchase at aircanada.com and through travel agents.
As new Boeing 777-300ER and 787 aircraft enter the Air Canada mainline
fleet, Air Canada will continue growing Air Canada rouge to reach a
total of up to 50 aircraft, as demand warrants. The growth of its
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.
"The expansion of Air Canada's global network to include new European
destinations is a significant turning point in Air Canada's
international growth strategy. With the addition of Air Canada rouge
service from Montreal to popular holiday destinations such as Nice and
Barcelona, we are offering customers great new options when making
their travel plans beginning next summer," said Ben Smith, Executive
Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer.
"The growth of Air Canada's international network, within forecasts
previously announced, is possible due to our ability to deploy capacity
and continue growing at significantly lower incremental cost. Air
Canada rouge's successful inaugural season underscores its growing
popularity among vacation- goers. Similarly, the introduction of our
new international Premium Economy cabin has also met with extremely
positive customer feedback and we are pleased to continue its
introduction with our five specially-configured Boeing 777-300ER
aircraft on routes such Montreal-London where market demand calls for a
larger supply of Economy and Premium Economy seats, in addition to
continuing to offer Executive First business class service.
"As Canada's preferred airline by business travellers, and voted Best
Airline in North America for the fourth consecutive year, we are
pleased to offer a wide range of premium products as well as high value
options together with Air Canada rouge. We will continue leveraging Air
Canada's strengths in fleet, product and network while responding to
demand on both a price and cost competitive basis to serve customers
across Canada and around the world," concluded Mr. Smith.
Said James Cherry, president and CEO "Aéroports de Montréal is pleased
with these new non-stop services and increased capacity on existing
destinations as it reinforces Montréal-Trudeau's appeal as an efficient
hub to Europe."
Air Canada will have taken delivery of five new Boeing 777-300ER
aircraft for the 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 six 787-8 aircraft in 2014
and the remaining 31 787-8 and -9 aircraft between 2015 and 2019.
Highlights of the Air Canada mainline Montreal Summer 2014 flight
schedule:
Montréal-London Heathrow
-
Aircraft upgauged from Airbus A330-300 to Boeing 777-300ER service
featuring new international Premium Economy cabin, in addition to
Executive First and expanded Economy cabins, from June 15 - September
30, 2014.
Montréal-Brussels
-
Aircraft upgauged from Boeing 767-300ER to Airbus A330-300 service
featuring choice of Air Canada Executive First and Economy cabins, from
March 29 - October 25, 2014.
Montréal-Geneva
-
Aircraft upgauged from Boeing 767-300ER to Airbus A330-300 service
year-round featuring choice of Air Canada Executive First and Economy
cabins.
Montréal-Frankfurt
-
Addition of a second non-stop flight five times weekly from May 16 -
October 12, 2014. The Air Canada codeshare flight will be operated by
Star Alliance partner, Lufthansa, and will complement Air Canada's
daily Airbus A330-300 year-round non-stop service,
Highlights of the Air Canada rouge Montreal Summer 2014 flight schedule:
Montréal-Nice
-
New three times weekly service from June 5 to October13, 2014, subject
to government approval. Departing Montréal on Tuesday, Thursday and
Sunday, and from Nice on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Montréal-Barcelona
-
New twice weekly service from June 4 to October 11, 2014, subject to
government approval. Departing Montréal on Wednesday and Friday, and
from Barcelona on Thursday and Saturday.
In addition, a popular holiday travel market currently served by Air
Canada's mainline carrier on a seasonal basis will be converted to Air
Canada rouge service beginning summer 2014:
Montréal-Rome
-
Up to daily service from May 23 to October 19, 2014.
These routes supplement the leisure carrier's other popular vacation
destinations as well as holiday and cruise package options offered in
conjunction with Air Canada Vacations.
For the summer 2014 season, Air Canada rouge will continue to operate
Montreal-Athens after their successful inaugural season in 2013.
All Air Canada rouge flights to Europe are operated with Boeing
767-300ER aircraft featuring 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. By the
Summer 2104 season, the Air Canada rouge widebody fleet will consist of
eight Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. All flights offer customers streamed
wireless inflight entertainment, standard 110 volt power plugs and USB
ports (beginning spring 2014), 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 among the 20 largest airlines in the world and in 2012
served close to 35 million customers. Air Canada provides scheduled
passenger service directly to 60 Canadian cities, 49 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 Air
Canada Leisure Group, along with Air Canada Vacations. Air Canada
rouge operates 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. 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 leads 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