Air Canada today announced that Benjamin Smith, President, Airlines and Chief Operating Officer, has advised the Corporation that he will resign his position effective August 31, 2018 to accept a role as chief executive officer at an European-based global airline.

"We wish Ben well in his future endeavours and congratulate him on his appointment. On behalf of our Board of Directors, our executive team and our 30,000 employees, I thank Ben for his significant contributions in many various roles at Air Canada over the past two decades," said Calin Rovinescu, President and Chief Executive Officer.

"There have been many architects of Air Canada's highly successful transformation, and our deep and highly experienced leadership team will continue to deliver on our global ambitions, achieve our targets and drive our operational performance well into the future," added Mr. Rovinescu.

Ben has been a member of Air Canada's Executive Committee since 2007, and his previous executive positions at Air Canada include Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer, Vice President-Network Planning, and President & CEO, Air Canada Vacations. Under Ben's leadership, Air Canada Rouge, the lower-cost airline that competes effectively in the leisure market worldwide, was launched.

Ben began his airline career when he joined Air Ontario, one of Jazz Aviation LP's predecessor regional airlines, as a Customer Sales and Service agent in 1990. He left Air Ontario in 1993 to open a retail corporate travel agency which he owned and operated for eight years. Ben rejoined Air Canada in 2002 as Managing Director of Tango, after overseeing the development and launch of Air Canada's innovative and separately branded, low-fare operation. Tango subsequently evolved into Air Canada's well-known Economy fare brand when the airline pioneered the successful, simplified branded fare model which is now industry standard around the world.