Air Canada rouge launches seasonal non-stop service between Montreal and Venice

Air Canada's leisure airline now serves Venice from two Canadian gateways 

MONTREAL, May 15, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ – Air Canada rouge touched down at Venice Marco Polo Airport this morning, marking the start of new non-stop seasonal service from Montreal's Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport. Celebrations were held at both airports to inaugurate the twice-weekly service.

Service between Montreal and Venice will be operated by Air Canada rouge twice weekly through October 11, 2015 with a 280-seat Boeing 767-300ER aircraft offering a choice of premium and economy cabins.

Air Canada rouge now serves Venice from both Montreal and Toronto during summer 2015 and offers the most seats of any airline between Canada and Venice during the peak summer season this year. 

"We are pleased to launch this new service from Montreal to the popular European destination of Venice.  Air Canada continues to strategically deploy Air Canada rouge on routes with high leisure travel demand as part of our strategy for sustainable, profitable growth," said Benjamin Smith, President, Passenger Airlines at Air Canada.

"Flights are timed to connect to Air Canada's extensive domestic and international network, providing customers with more choice and convenience when travelling. Customers also have the opportunity to accumulate and redeem Aeroplan miles on all Air Canada rouge flights," concluded Mr. Smith.

Air Canada rouge's Montreal-Venice service:

Flight	Departs	Arrives	Day of week
AC1918	Montreal 21:30	Venice 11:40 + 1 day	Thursday, Saturday
AC1919	Venice 13:25	Montreal 16:25	Friday, Sunday

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: 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, part of the Air Canada Leisure Group along with Air Canada Vacations. Together with Air Canada Vacations, Air Canada rouge offers competitively-priced travel to 50 exciting leisure destinations on 68 routes in Europe, Mexico, the U.S., the Caribbean, Asia, South America and Canada.

Air Canada rouge began operating July 1, 2013 with a start-up fleet of two Airbus 319 aircraft and two Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. Air Canada rouge currently operates a total of 31 aircraft including 20 Airbus 319 and 11 Boeing 767-300ER aircraft.

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 or to book a flight, visit www.flyrouge.com. Visit Air Canada rouge on Facebook at www.facebook.com/aircanadarouge.

SOURCE Air Canada - Route & Network

Image with caption: "Air Canada rouge pilots, rouge crew and staff are joined by a gondolier and a Venetian noble to celebrate the launch of Air Canada rouge’s first non-stop flight from Montreal to Venice on Thursday May 14. (CNW Group/Air Canada - Route & Network)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150515_C6425_PHOTO_EN_16702.jpg

Image with caption: "Starting the vacation in the boarding lounge: a gondolier performs Italian opera at the launch of Air Canada rouge’s new non-stop service between Montreal and Venice. (CNW Group/Air Canada - Route & Network)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150515_C6425_PHOTO_EN_16703.jpg

Image with caption: "Customers enjoy a cake before the first Air Canada rouge non-stop flight from Montreal to Venice. (CNW Group/Air Canada - Route & Network)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150515_C6425_PHOTO_EN_16704.jpg

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