The German National Tourist Office and visitBerlin, joined forced with Air Canada to host the travel trade and media last week to celebrate Air Canada Rouge’s new service to Berlin.

Air Canada Rouge will operate four-times weekly service from Toronto to Berlin starting June 3, 2017. The eight hour flight will depart Toronto at 11:30 PM, arriving in Berlin midday the following day, at 1:35 PM. So there’s no waiting around to check-in to your hotel.

Antje Splettstoesser, Canadian director for the German National Tourist Office, addressed the crowd at Archeo in Toronto’s distillery district and is clearly excited when talking about Berlin and the city, including its history, culinary scene, music and more. She expects Air Canada Rouges’ new flights to the city to increase overnight stays by Canadians in Berlin, which are already the highest of any city in Germany.

Also on hand to celebrate were Peter Fahrenholtz, German consul general in Toronto, Duncan Bureau, vice president, global sales, Air Canada, and Kirsten Schmidt, visitBerlin’s North American representative.

“Berlin is the most exciting city in Europe. They have things for people in culture…[they have] big museums, [things for] people in history and the cold war. It was the front line city of the cold war, with Checkpoint Charlie and so on.” said Fahrenholtz. “They have the greatest nightlife in all of Europe. And, last but not least, it is the most budget [friendly] capital city in Europe… you can get a 5-star hotel for about half price, than any other capital in Europe…at the same you can go out for a nice, big, hearty lunch for less than 10 Canadian dollars.”

Duncan Bureau, highlighted Berlin’s place in the superhub that Air Canada continues to build in Toronto.

“If you think about our U.S. sixth freedom traffic, the amount of markets that we’re opening up with a one-stop into Berlin connecting over Toronto is significant.” Bureau said.

With the addition of Air Canada Rouge’s service into Berlin, Air Canada will now serve three of the five largest cities in Germany; Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich, with Cologne and Hamburg and many other German cities accessible through connections to Air Canada’s Star Alliance partner, Lufthansa. 

Thanks for coming out to kick off new route launch YYZ-TXL #helloBerlin with @GermanyTourism @AirCanada @germanwineca and @GoetheToronto pic.twitter.com/6cdvhiQ3DW

— Antje Splettstoesser (@antjesplett) May 12, 2017

#helloberlin Incredible evening w/ Consulate General for Russia and Germany along with German Deputy and @DuncanBureau pic.twitter.com/tV3a0TZwmU

— John Kirk (@JohnKirk_ca) May 11, 2017

New route! @AirCanadaRouge is now flying from YYZ to BER! #helloberlin @BerlinTourism @GermanyTourism pic.twitter.com/zCTuGe6Ehn

— Arienne Parzei (@seeusoontravel) May 12, 2017

Follow @TravelPulseCA