Air Canada announces first Air Canada rouge Service between Toronto and Charlottetown during Summer Travel Season

Over 35 per cent increase in available seats over last summer

MONTREAL, Dec. 3, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada today announced that its leisure carrier subsidiary, Air Canada rouge™, is expanding in Eastern Canada by operating twice daily seasonal non-stop service between Toronto and Charlottetown beginning May 2, 2016. Flights and optional Air Canada Vacations packages are available for purchase at aircanada.com and through travel agents. Air Canada Vacations currently has seven-day vacation packages available for sale from Charlottetown to Sun destinations via Toronto from as low as $847 round-trip, all-in.  

"With the expansion of our leisure carrier rouge to Charlottetown, Air Canada is pleased to offer  over 35 per cent more seats over last summer between Toronto and Charlottetown, just in time for the busy summer travel season," said Benjamin Smith, Air Canada President Passenger Airlines. "By deploying Air Canada rouge on Charlottetown, a popular summer travel destination, Air Canada is reinforcing its commitment to meet the needs of Islanders and the Island's tourism and business community. For over 30 years, Prince Edward Island and visitors have been able to count on Air Canada for year-round and competitive air service connecting the Island with Canada and the world."

"The Charlottetown Airport welcomes Air Canada's decision to bring their Air Canada rouge product to Prince Edward Island", said Airport Authority CEO Doug Newson. "The use of larger Airbus A319 aircraft between Charlottetown and Toronto will provide more capacity for Islanders as well as the thousands of tourists that travel to our beautiful province every year. Air Canada has served Prince Edward Island for several decades and we thank them for continuing to pursue strategic growth options that will have a significant impact on PEI's economy."

Air Canada in Prince Edward Island
In summer 2016, Air Canada rouge and Air Canada Express will operate up to 69 scheduled non-stop flights each week from Charlottetown to four destinations across Canada.

• Air Canada offers twice daily summer service to Toronto between May 2 and October 23, 2016 operated by Air Canada rouge with 136-seat Airbus A319 aircraft featuring premium and economy cabins. All Air Canada rouge Airbus A319 aircraft feature an additional 30 per cent of overhead bin space and an upgraded premium cabin with spacious seats in a 2x2 configuration. For winter 2016/17, service will return to three daily Air Canada Express flights with the 50-seat Bombardier CRJ jet aircraft operated by Air Georgian
• Up to three daily non-stop Air Canada Express flights to Montreal with a mix of 74-seat Bombardier Q400 Next Generation aircraft offering all-leather seating and 50-seat Bombardier CRJ aircraft operated by Jazz Aviation LP
• One daily non-stop flight to Ottawa with Air Canada Express 50-seat Bombardier CRJ jet aircraft operated by Jazz Aviation LP
• Four daily flights to Halifax using Air Canada Express 18-seat Beech 1900D aircraft operated by Exploits Valley Air Services, Ltd. (EVAS)

About Air Canada and Air Canada rouge

Air Canada is Canada's largest domestic and international airline serving more than 200 airports on six continents. Canada's flag carrier is among the 20 largest airlines in the world and in 2014 served more than 38 million customers. Air Canada provides scheduled passenger service directly to 63 airports in Canada, 52 in the United States and 86 in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and South America. Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance, the world's most comprehensive air transportation network serving 1,321 airports in 193 countries. Air Canada is the only international network carrier in North America to receive a Four-Star ranking according to independent U.K. research firm Skytrax.  For more information, please visit: www.aircanada.com, follow @AirCanada on Twitter and join Air Canada on Facebook.

Air Canada rouge is Air Canada's leisure airline. Together with Air Canada Vacations, Air Canada rouge offers competitively-priced travel to 66 exciting leisure destinations on 91 routes in Europe, Mexico, the U.S., the Caribbean, Asia, South America, Africa and Canada. As a wholly-owned subsidiary, Air Canada rouge is backed by Air Canada's 77-year reputation for safety and reliability and Air Canada Vacations' 30-plus year history of vacation travel excellence. For more information, visit www.flyrouge.com or to book a flight visit www.aircanada.com. Visit Air Canada rouge on Facebook at www.facebook.com/aircanadarouge.

SOURCE Air Canada - Route & Network

Isabelle Arthur (Montréal), [email protected], 514 422-5788; Peter Fitzpatrick (Toronto), [email protected], 416 263-5576; Angela Mah (Vancouver), [email protected], 604 270-5741; Internet: aircanada.com