Air Canada Continues Major International Expansion

Photo courtesy of Air Canada

As Air Canada eyes a world where all international air connections are completed in Canada, the airline is in the midst of its largest international expansion in history.

With the launch of its newest non-stop service today, connecting Toronto and Seoul, the carrier has introduced ten new international routes in just the past month.

Since May 19, Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge have commenced new service to seven destinations in Europe as well as new routes in Asia, Africa and Australia. Those new flights come on top of the 11 new trans-border routes to the United States the airline has introduced since the start of May.

"Air Canada has undertaken the most intensive period of international expansion in its history,” said Benjamin Smith, president, Passenger Airlines at Air Canada. “Over the past month, through Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge we have launched 10 new non-stop, year-round or seasonal services to international destinations on four continents.  Air Canada is already the leading Canadian domestic airline and offers the most flights to the U.S. of any foreign carrier, with 11 new city pairs launched since the start of May.”

In addition to daily, year-round 787-9 Dreamliner service between Toronto and Seoul, Air Canada has also increased its year-round 787-8 service between Vancouver and Brisbane to a daily service, starting today. Air Canada mainline has also launched (five-times weekly), year-round service between Montreal and Lyon, on a 767-300ER aircraft.

Air Canada Rouge has begun operating seven new seasonal flights since May 19, with city pairs that include Toronto and London-Gatwick, Glasgow, Prague, Budapest and Warsaw; Vancouver-Dublin; and Montreal-Casablanca.

New Service to the United States

Also starting today, Air Canada is extending its 787 Dreamliner service between Vancouver and Brisbane to include a stop in Newark, N.J., making it easier for travellers from the New York area to visit Australia.

"We look forward to welcoming onboard customers travelling between the New York area and Vancouver, Air Canada's Pacific hub, and experiencing our 787 Dreamliner service,” said Smith. “Our Newark-Vancouver flights offer easy connections to both our daily 787 Dreamliner flights to Brisbane and our daily non-stop, 777 flights to Sydney.”

Since the start of May, Air Canada has launched 11 new trans-border routes to the U.S., including Toronto and Washington-Dulles, Jacksonville, Fla., Portland, Ore., and Salt Lake City; Vancouver and San José, San Diego and Chicago; Montreal and Philadelphia, Denver, and Houston; and, beginning June 18, Calgary-San Francisco.

For more information, visit www.aircanada.com.

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