July 14, 2010 - Air Canada today announced that it will begin daily, non-stop service between Toronto and New Orleans starting October 30, 2010. The new route will be operated with a 75-seat, Jazz CRJ 705 aircraft featuring Executive and Economy class service and seatback, personal audio-visual entertainment throughout the aircraft. 'Air Canada is very pleased to offer customers service between Toronto and New Orleans, the eighth new route from Toronto to the U.S. we will launch this year. New Orleans was recently voted one of the top ten cities to visit in the U.S. and Canada by the well-respected Travel + Leisure magazine and there are also important business connections between New Orleans and Canada. Customers will enjoy the choice of two classes of service, the opportunity to collect and redeem Aeroplan miles, and for those who are eligible lounge access and concierge service,' said Ben Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. 'This route further enhances our Toronto hub at Lester B. Pearson International Airport where our operations are centralized in a single terminal with streamlined customs procedures, making it an extremely convenient gateway to and from the U.S. and an ideal transfer point for domestic, transborder and international travelers connecting to our extensive global network.' Flight AC7971 will depart Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport at 9:50 and arrive at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport at 12 noon. Flight AC7972 will depart New Orleans at 12:35 and arrive in Toronto at 16:20.
September 18, 2008 - Air Canada eliminates second bag fee, folds fuel surcharges into advertised fares
In response to decreasing fuel prices Air Canada is eliminating all second checked-bag charges implemented this spring and incorporating fuel surcharges into its advertised base fares on North American flights. 'Although the cost of fuel remains highly volatile and far above historic norms, the recent retreat in oil prices is enabling us to reinstate our previous baggage policy. We are eliminating the second checked bag charge on North American Tango and Tango Plus fares, reflecting our customers’ expressed preferences. 'Further, Air Canada is making its pricing more transparent by removing add-on fuel surcharges for flights within North America and instead adjusting its base fares to cover the total cost of fuel,' said Ben Smith, executive vice president and chief commercial officer. 'These initiatives are made possible by the recent relief from all-time high oil prices and even though fares will remain dynamic, Air Canada is committed to everyday low prices and will continue to match the lowest fares in the marketplace.'
June 11, 2008 - Air Canada flying high in Asia
These are busy days for Air Canada as the carrier celebrates its service to Asia this year. In Toronto, yesterday, Air Canada executives and staffers were on hand to welcome agents, operators and others to an event that showcased its products and services to Asia. Along with officials from the Hong Kong, Korea, Japan and China tourist offices here in Canada, Air Canada’s vice-president sales and product distribution, Marc Rosenberg talked about Air Canada non-stop services from Canada to such destinations as Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Seoul. Out of Toronto, the carrier offers 31 non-stops a week to Asia, while from Vancouver it has 45 non-stops. While Rosenberg was in an upbeat mood for the afternoon’s festivities, he also took time to point out that these were challenging times in the airline business, referring specifically to the ongoing battle that carriers are having as a result of the rising price of fuel. He pointed out that for every $1 per barrel rise in fuel prices, Air Canada needs to generate an additional $26 million in additional revenues to pay for it. “That’s a challenge,” Rosenberg told his audience, adding that he recognized that it’s a challenge that makes things tough not only for the airline, but also for travel agents. However, he said that Air Canada has made some wise choices that include flying only profitable routes and using new and more fuel-efficient aircraft ranging from Embraers to the new Boeing 777s that have become the jewels in the Air Canada fleet.
March 11, 2008 - Air Canada gives you the sun
Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations are offering an expanded line-up of non-stop flights to popular holiday resort destinations this summer. Three new destinations will be available to choose from -- Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, Mexico; Santa Clara, Cuba; and Turks & Caicos. “Air Canada is offering 65 per cent more capacity this summer over last and Air Canada is growing services to leisure destinations to meet travel demand,” said Ben Smith, Air Canada’s executive vice-president and chief commercial officer. Air Canada vacations president Zeina Gedeon added, “There truly is something for everyone under the sun this summer. With hundreds of resorts in some 50 destinations and over 350 Air Canada flights every week, exciting escapes are at your fingertips.
February 20, 2008 - Air Canada get ready for summer
Air Canada will complete its renewal of its narrow body fleet by June 1 and it will have three-quarters of its wide-body planes ready for the summer season as well. Ben Smith, executive vice-president, commercial, Air Canada, said: “Air Canada is passing a milestone in its aircraft interior refurbishment program. The renewal of our regular narrow body fleet will be complete by June 1 and three quarters of Air Canada's wide-body aircraft will also be ready for the summer, meaning we can now guarantee a new or refurbished aircraft on our major routes. Smith continued: “Further enhancing the travel experience on Air Canada this summer is the consolidation of our operations in a single terminal at our Toronto hub, with its new Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges.”
August 15, 2007 - Galileo agents to get desktop access to Air Canada products
Galileo and Air Canada have signed a multi-year agreement for a new desktop solution that will provide Galileo-connected Canadian travel agents access to the full range and attributes of Air Canada’s à-la-carte fare products and flight passes. Air Canada will become the launch customer of the desktop solution, developed by Galileo and powered by Air Canada’s direct-connect application programming interface platform. Galileo is embracing new ways to do business and we are especially pleased to partner with Air Canada, an innovative and forward-thinking carrier, as our launch customer for this new solution, said Dave Falter, president, Galileo Americas. Air Canada VP, Sales and Product Distribution, Marc Rosenberg, commented, Today’s announcement marks the successful outcome of many months of close collaboration to develop a robust, user-friendly solution that meets Air Canada’s merchandising requirements. We are satisfied that Galileo subscribers will have a powerful, automated tool that will help them enhance productivity and customer service, by offering the full range of Air Canada product features. The new desktop solution will enable Galileo subscribers to shop, price and book all Air Canada domestic, US transborder and international itineraries and fares, including Tango, Tango Plus, Latitude, Latitude Plus and Executive, as well as the capability to book using Air Canada’s complete range of Flight Pass products.
August 2, 2007 - Western Canadians get more access to Mexico from Air Canada
The Mexico Tourism Board is hailing new year-round Air Canada charter service from Vancouver to Puerto Vallarta. The non-stop Sunday Air Canada flights will switch to Saturdays in November. As well, travellers from the West will be able to travel on new Air Canada non-stop flights from Vancouver to Cancun, the Riviera Maya, Los Cabos and Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo as of November
August 1, 2007 - Air Canada Vacations Goes Paperless
Air Canada Vacations began issuing e-documents for all new bookings, effective today. Air Canada Vacations is now issuing all travel documents (tickets, vouchers) electronically. This applies to new bookings made today onward for all Air Canada Vacations destinations.
Overview - Air Canada
source: www.aircanada.com
Air Canada together with its regional airline subsidiary,
Air Canada Jazz, provides scheduled and charter air transportation
for passengers and cargo to more than 150 destinations, vacation
packages to over 90 destinations, as well as maintenance,
ground handling and training services to other airlines.
As Canada’s flag carrier, Air Canada is recognized
as a leader in the global air transportation market by pursuing
a strategy based on value-added customer service, technical
excellence and passenger safety.
Air Canada has been ranked as the world’s safest airline
in an independent analysis by air safety consultants of more
than 500 airlines using ten management and environment criteria.
In a 2002, survey of the world’s most frequent air travellers,
conducted by travel information publisher OAG, Air Canada
was voted best airline in North America for the second time
in three years; Air Canada’s frequent flyer program,
Aeroplan, was voted best in the world for two consecutive
years in 2002, and again in 2003 when the airline’s
website was also voted best in the world. In 1999, Air Canada
was selected as best passenger service airline in the world
by Air Transport World Magazine. In addition, the readers
of Business Traveler International have chosen Air Canada
as their preferred airline to Canada for the past ten consecutive
years.
Air Canada's predecessor, Trans-Canada Airlines (TCA), inaugurated
its first flight on September 1st, 1937. The 50-minute flight
aboard a Lockheed 10A carried two passengers and mail between
Vancouver and Seattle. By 1964, TCA had grown to become Canada's
national airline; it changed its name to Air Canada. The airline
became fully privatized in 1989. In 2000, Air Canada acquired
Canadian Airlines International, Canada’s second largest
air carrier, thus becoming the world’s tenth largest
international carrier.
Customer Service Highlights
Executive First, Air Canada’s redesigned international
executive class service, offers first class comfort and sophistication
at business class fares and is available on most transatlantic
and all transpacific routes. Air Canada’s personalized
Concierge service is available for Executive First and Aeroplan
Super Elite customers at major Canadian, US and international
airports.
Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounges welcome Executive First
and Executive Class ticket holders, as well as Aeroplan Super
Elite and Elite members, Star Alliance Gold cardholders and
Diners/ enRoute Maple Leaf Club cardholders. Air Canada's
19 quiet, comfortable lounges offer a selection of newspapers
and magazines as well as complimentary beverages. They are
ideal for customers who want to work or relax before a flight.
Many of Air Canada's lounges offer state-of-the-art business
centres. The Xerox Business Centres offer a complete range
of leading-edge business equipment and computers, modern furnishings
and high-speed Internet accessibility.
Air Canada’s frequent flyer program, Aeroplan, is Canada’s
most popular. Over 6 million members earn miles toward reward
travel to destinations served by Air Canada, its regional
airlines and worldwide partner airlines.
Aeroplan miles earned on Star Alliance flights count toward
achieving top-tier membership status with Air Canada. In addition,
Air Canada Aeroplan members earn miles through an extensive
network of car rental companies, hotels, telephone companies
and affinity credit card companies.
Air Canada's Network
Air Canada provides scheduled and chartered passenger jet
service directly to 21 Canadian cities, 30 destinations in
the United States and 54 cities in Europe, the Middle East,
Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Mexico and South America.
Air Canada operates on average 630 scheduled flights each
day, and serves approximately 21 million scheduled and charter
customers annually.
Air Canada’s extensive global network, schedules and
customer services are enhanced through its membership in the
Star Alliance™ network with Lufthansa, SAS, Thai Airways
International, United Airlines, VARIG, Air New Zealand, All
Nippon Airways, Austrian Airlines Group, Singapore Airlines,
bmi british midland, Asiana Airlines, Spanair, LOT Polish
Airlines and US Airways. Together, Star Alliance carriers
serve 755 airports in 132 countries.
Air Canada Jazz
Air Canada’s wholly-owned regional airline, Air Canada
Jazz, and its commercial partners serve an additional 48 Canadian
and 20 U.S. cities. Air Canada Jazz operates on average 724
flights per day and serves approximately 6 million customers
annually. This important regional airline plays a vital role
in providing connecting traffic to the Air Canada network
as well as meeting the needs of local customers.
Air Canada Vacations
This major Canadian tour operator, a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Air Canada, offers best-value vacation packages (including
roundtrip airfare, hotel, return transfers, cruises and car
rentals) to over 40 destinations in the Caribbean and North
America. Over 250,000 passengers travelled with Air Canada
Vacations in 2003.
Technical Services
Air Canada Technical Services offers customers worldwide
a diverse range of technical expertise in the maintenance,
repair and overhaul of aircraft, engines, components and various
ground and test equipment. Air Canada Technical Services also
sells ground-handling services to airlines and other customers,
as well as training services for mechanics, flight attendants
and pilots.
Employees
As of December 31, 2003, Air Canada employed approximately
33,000 people worldwide including 3,500 at Air Canada Jazz.
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