Air Canada Expands Introduction of Boeing 787 Dreamliners to More Asia Routes from Vancouver

787 Dreamliners featuring carrier's new international cabin features to fly from Vancouver to Beijing, Seoul, Shanghai and Tokyo-Narita

VANCOUVER, Nov. 19, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada today announced it will expand the introduction of Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft featuring the airline's new International Business Class and Premium Economy seating to more of its routes to Asia from Vancouver including Beijing in February and Seoul in March 2015. Air Canada recently converted its Vancouver-Shanghai route to 787 Dreamliner service, with Vancouver-Tokyo/Narita to be converted mid-December. Visit 787.aircanada.com for a virtual tour of the aircraft featuring Air Canada's new international product standard that offers international travellers industry-leading seating amenities in a choice of three cabins of service.

"We are very excited to expand the introduction of Air Canada's new 787 Dreamliner aircraft to more routes from Vancouver to Asia on a year-round basis. Customer feedback on our new International Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy product standard debuted on the 787 Dreamliner has been extremely positive," said Benjamin Smith, President, Passenger Airlines while in Vancouver to present the newest addition to Air Canada's international fleet to clients and business partners. "The choice of three cabins of state-of-the-art seating, as well as enhanced cabin comfort and next-generation entertainment systems are a big hit with customers. Our new international product standard is being introduced with the arrival of 787 Dreamliner aircraft and we look forward to offering more customers the very best in comfort and amenities as we begin the conversion later next year of all 25 of our Boeing 777-300ER and 777-200LR aircraft to our 787 Dreamliner seating standards."

Air Canada's Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft feature three cabins of service offering comfortable ergonomic seating and enhanced definition intuitive touch personal entertainment screens. Air Canada's International Business Class cabin features 20 Executive Pods with 180-degree lie-flat seats in a 1-2-1 configuration guaranteeing direct aisle access. The Premium Economy cabin has 21 seats in a 2-3-2 configuration and, unique for a North American airline, Air Canada's Premium Economy seating offers more generous personal space, wider seats and greater legroom and recline as well as premium meals, complimentary bar service and priority check-in and baggage delivery at the airport. The Economy cabin has 210 slimline seats in a 3-3-3 configuration providing personal space consistent with the comfort of Air Canada's current Economy cabin.

The fuel efficient Boeing 787 Dreamliners opens up opportunities for Air Canada to serve new international destinations and convert existing routes to Dreamliner service as the airline replaces existing Boeing 767 aircraft with the new Boeing 787 fleet. Air Canada's first new route to be operated with the 787 Dreamliner was Toronto-Tokyo/Haneda in July, followed by the conversion of the airline's Toronto-Tel Aviv route to 787 Dreamliner service in August.

Air Canada will take delivery of six Boeing 787 aircraft by the end of 2014, with all 37 aircraft scheduled to be delivered by the end of 2019. The carrier's Dreamliner fleet will consist of a total of 15 787-8 aircraft and 22 of the larger capacity 787-9 aircraft. As Air Canada takes delivery of new widebody aircraft for its mainline fleet, current Boeing 767 aircraft will be transferred to its leisure carrier subsidiary, Air Canada rouge.

Air Canada is Canada's largest domestic and international airline serving more than 180 destinations on five continents. Canada's flag carrier is among the 20 largest airlines in the world and in 2013 served more than 35 million customers. Air Canada provides scheduled passenger service directly to 60 Canadian cities, 49 destinations in the United States and 72 cities in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Mexico and South America. Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance, the world's most comprehensive air transportation network serving 1,269 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 that ranked Air Canada in a worldwide survey of more than 18 million airline passengers as Best Airline in North America in 2014 for the fifth consecutive year. For more information, please visit: www.aircanada.com.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Air Canada's public communications may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements, by their nature, are based on assumptions and are subject to important risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements cannot be relied upon due to, amongst other things, changing external events and general uncertainties of the business. Actual results may differ materially from results indicated in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including without limitation, industry, market, credit and economic conditions, the ability to reduce operating costs and secure financing, pension issues, energy prices, employee and labour relations, currency exchange and interest rates, competition, war, terrorist acts, epidemic diseases, environmental factors (including weather systems and other natural phenomena, and factors arising from man-made sources), insurance issues and costs, changes in demand due to the seasonal nature of the business, supply issues, changes in laws, regulatory developments or proceedings, pending and future litigation and actions by third parties as well as the factors identified throughout Air Canada's public disclosure file available at www.sedar.com.  Any forward-looking statements contained in this news release represent Air Canada's expectations as of the date of this news release and are subject to change after such date.  However, Air Canada disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities regulations.

ATTENTION EDITORS: A selection of photos can be downloaded here: http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/media/facts/photos_fleet.html

SOURCE: Air Canada - Route & Network

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