“Wow, it’s just like being there.” is sure to heard numerous times this month as Air Canada gives consumers and travel agents the opportunity to experience flying, dining and playing on their new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, through a new Virtual Reality Experience.

The first Canadian airline to use virtual reality technology to simulate the experience of flying on an aircraft, Air Canada is offering the opportunity to virtually explore all three cabins of service offered on board the aircraft, including enjoying a virtual International Business Class meal, complete with wine, in an Executive Pod.

"Air Canada is always developing new ways to enhance the customer experience and to engage partners such as the travel agent community, which plays a key role in helping our customers select the travel options best suited to them." said Duncan Bureau, vice president, Global Sales at Air Canada. “Virtual reality enables us to familiarize thousands of travel agents and potential customers with Air Canada's offerings through the magic of an interactive, virtual tour. We have already seen an increase in bookings since we began using this technology."

After putting on headsets and taking the controls in hand, users start the experience with an overview of Air Canada's global route network and the new Air Canada livery, before delving into the virtual cabin experiences.

All three cabins – Economy, Premium Economy and International Business – are available to be experienced and everything from amenity kits and tray tables, to Air Canada's on-demand, in-flight entertainment system, can be touched, opened and moved, while guided by an audio-based flight attendant. Interactive experiences such as dinner service add an extra element of fun.

Air Canada's Boeing 787 Dreamliner virtual reality experience will be available at events around the world throughout November, including:

- London, UK - Air Canada’s Pop-Up Poutinerie in the Shoreditch area of London until November 11, 2017.

- Santiago, Chile – Air Canada’s booth (18S) at BAZAR ED 2017 fair, November 22 to 26, 2017;

- Toronto, Ontario - WX Top 100 Leadership Summit, spotlighting Canada’s Most Powerful Women, November 23, 2017

- Toronto, Ontario - Ernst & Young’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year National Gala at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, November 30, 2017.

To complement the Virtual Reality Experience, Air Canada has produced 360° videos, like the one below, of the three 787 Dreamliner cabins, which can be viewed online on a mobile device or desktop.

VIDEO: Start the video and then use the directional arrows in the top right-hand corner, to explore the cabin. (Video courtesy of Air Canada)

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