Air Canada Launches 10 New International Routes in One Month - Toronto-Seoul inaugural extends recent global expansion to four continents

MONTREAL, June 17, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada flight AC061 departed for Seoul, South Korea today, inaugurating the carrier's 10^th new international route in the past month. Since May 19, Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge have between them started seven new non-stop routes to Europe and one each to Asia, Africa and Australia as part of the airline's international expansion. In addition, Air Canada has also launched 11 new U.S. transborder routes since the start of May.

"Air Canada has undertaken the most intensive period of international expansion in its history. Over the past month, through Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge we have launched 10 new non-stop, year-round or seasonal services to international destinations on four continents. This gives customers, in time for this summer, more choices of destinations and routings than ever before," said Benjamin Smith, President, Passenger Airlines at Air Canada. "Air Canada is already the leading Canadian domestic airline and offers the most flights to the U.S. of any foreign carrier, with 11 new city pairs launched since the start of May. By offering convenient connections to our expanding international network through our Toronto global hub, as well as Vancouver and Montreal, we can provide customers even greater connectivity so they can seamlessly travel the world."

Along with today's launch of daily, year-round 787-9 Dreamliner service non-stop between Toronto and Seoul, Air Canada mainline has also started non-stop, year-round 787-8 Vancouver-Brisbane service that increases to daily beginning today. The Dreamliner offers customers the choice of three cabins of service, International Business Class with lie-flat seat suites, Premium Economy and Economy Class. Air Canada mainline has also launched up to five-times weekly, year-round service between Montreal and Lyon, operated by a 767-300ER that features lie flat International Business Class seating.

Air Canada Rouge has begun operating seven new seasonal flights since May 19. The new city pairs include: Toronto and London-Gatwick, Glasgow, Prague, Budapest and Warsaw; Vancouver-Dublin; and Montreal-Casablanca. Flights will be operated with an Air Canada Rouge Boeing 767-300ER, featuring Premium Rouge and Economy cabins.

Flights by both Air Canada mainline and Air Canada Rouge are timed to optimize connectivity with Air Canada's network. They also provide for Aeroplan accumulation and redemption and, for eligible customers, priority check-in, Maple Leaf Lounge access, priority boarding and other benefits.

Also since the start of May, Air Canada has launched 11 new transborder routes to the U.S. The new pairings include: Toronto and Washington-Dulles, Jacksonville, Fla., Portland, Ore., and Salt Lake City; Vancouver and San José, San Diego and Chicago; Montreal and Philadelphia, Denver, and Houston; and, beginning June 18, Calgary-San Francisco.

About Air Canada

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 2015 served more than 41 million customers.  Air Canada provides scheduled passenger service directly to 64 airports in Canada, 55 in the United States and 87 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.

About Air Canada Rouge

Air Canada Rouge is Air Canada's leisure airline and offers competitively-priced travel to 70 exciting leisure destinations on 99 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 reputation for safety and reliability. For more information, visit www.flyrouge.com or to book a flight visit www.aircanada.com.

SOURCE Air Canada - Route & Network

Contacts: 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