AIR CANADA VOTED TOP HONOURS BY READERS OF BUSINESS TRAVELER MAGAZINE

• Best Flight Attendants in North America
  
• Best In-Flight Services in North America
  
• Best North American Airline for Business Class Service
  
• Best North American Airline for International Travel
  
• Best Airline Web Site

MONTREAL, Dec. 10 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada has won five top honours in Business Traveler's "Best in Business Travel" award program, the most first place awards won by any airline in the world in the influential magazine's annual reader survey.

"Air Canada is very pleased to have earned this recognition from the readers of Business Traveler magazine, who are experienced flyers and discerning travelers. It is particularly gratifying that they have selected Air Canada for a wide range of services including its website, its flight attendants, and its on-board services for both North American and international travel. Clearly our customers appreciate the amenities we offer, such as our 180-degree lie-flat suites in Executive First and seatback video throughout the fleet, and the hard work of Air Canada's 26,000 employees, who are the true winners of these awards," said Ben Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Air Canada.

Air Canada has been voted by the readers of Business Traveler as offering the Best In-Flight Services in North America, the Best North American Airline for Business Class Service, and the Best North American Airline for International Travel - all for the third year in a row. For the second consecutive year, Air Canada was recognized as having the Best Flight Attendants in North America, and, for the first time this year, the Best Airline Web Site. Earlier this month, Air Canada was honoured by another influential business travel magazine when Global Traveler named Air Canada the Best Airline in North America.

Results of the 23rd annual "Best in Business Travel" awards were revealed at a ceremony last night in Los Angeles.  Business Traveler is one of the world's leading authorities on business travel and the awards were based on a U.S. readership survey.  Business Traveler has 10 editions worldwide with more than 500,000 readers.

Air Canada has renewed its international and North American fleets with new Boeing 777 and Embraer aircraft.  Air Canada has also refurbished its existing fleet to offer all customers new seats and personal entertainment systems at each seat, fleet-wide on North American and international routes.  New fleet-wide amenities include digital in-seat monitors with touch-screen controls hundreds of hours of audio and video on-demand programming, standard in-seat power within reach of every customer, 180-degree lie-flat beds in Executive First suites, Air Canada's international business class service, and the ability to collect and redeem Aeroplan miles. 

In addition, Air Canada customers benefit from a simplified airport experience for connecting between U.S.-Canada transborder flights and either domestic Canada or international overseas flights world wide, via new facilities all under one roof at its main Toronto hub.

Air Canada is Canada's largest domestic and international full-service airline providing scheduled and charter air transportation for passengers and cargo from 60 communities large and small across Canada to more than 175 destinations on five continents.  Canada's flag carrier is the 15th largest commercial airline in the world and serves 31 million customers annually.  Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance, the world's most comprehensive air transportation network serving 1,172 airports in 181 countries.

For further information:

Isabelle Arthur (Montréal) [phone]
Peter Fitzpatrick (Toronto) [phone]
Angela Mah (Vancouver) [phone]

Internet: aircanada.com