Air Canada First Foreign Airline to Offer Customers the Ease and Convenience of TSA Pre?™ program at U.S. Airports

Customers to uniquely benefit from fast-track security clearance, extended mobile check-in

MONTREAL, April 30, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada customers travelling from the U.S. can now obtain electronic boarding passes at U.S. airports, not only making check-in and boarding simpler but also giving them easier access to the TSA Pre✓™ program. Air Canada is the only foreign airline qualified for pre-check, which uses features such as dedicated lanes and less intrusive search measures to make it easier for pre-approved travellers to pass through security.

"Air Canada is pleased to now offer customers the convenience of mobile check-in and e-boarding passes at U.S. airports we serve. This will also make it easier for eligible customers to access the TSA Pre✓™ program, a welcome smart security initiative that saves time and avoids cumbersome requirements such as removing shoes and belts," said Benjamin Smith, President, Passenger Airlines at Air Canada. "For frequent business travellers TSA Pre✓™ is attractive because many already have Nexus or other recognized security documents to qualify. As the only foreign airline approved for TSA Pre✓™, it is another way Air Canada is distinguishing itself in the transborder business market, including by being the only Canadian carrier to offer Business Class, Maple Leaf Lounges at major airports, the Altitude loyalty program and fully-lie flat seats on select long-haul routes with our new Business Class -Transcontinental service."

Electronic boarding passes are now or soon-to-be available for all 52 U.S. airports that Air Canada serves, allowing customers to complete their web check-in and obtain their boarding pass via e-mail or text message. Customers completing mobile check-in for departures from any airport in the U.S. may also now obtain their boarding pass directly on their smartphone, providing a seamless mobile check-in experience. Customers who are eligible for pre-check will no longer be required to print their boarding pass at the airport with an Air Canada agent or from an Air Canada self-service check-in kiosk to take advantage of expedited security clearance.

TSA Pre✓™ is a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Transportation Security Administration (TSA) risk-based security initiative which allows low-risk travellers to experience expedited, more efficient security screening at U.S. airport checkpoints for domestic and international travel. Among those eligible for the program are Canadian citizens who belong to NEXUS, U.S. citizens with a Known Traveller Number or those who belong to Global Entry. For more information, including details on how to qualify, please see https://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/before/tsa_precheck.html.

About Air Canada

Air Canada is Canada's largest domestic and international airline serving more than 190 destinations on five 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 64 Canadian cities, 52 destinations in the United States and 78 cities in Europe, the Middle East, 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 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: aircanada.com.

SOURCE Air Canada

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