The first Air Canada flight directly to Zurich took off.
Satellite connectivity across Air Canada’s wide-body, international fleet debuts on 777-300ER aircraft. First Canadian airline to offer internet services that enable customers to stream TV shows and movies on their own devices.
MONTREAL – Air Canada said it has begun offering next-generation, satellite connectivity on its wide-body international fleet with the introduction of Air Canada Wi-Fi provided by Gogo. Starting with flights operated by Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, the new service will be the fastest available on any Canadian airline and makes Air Canada the first Canadian carrier to offer customers the ability to stream TV and movies in-flight through the internet.
"Air Canada customers on international wide-body flights will have access to the fastest internet service available on any Canadian carrier. Air Canada Wi-Fi will make traveling more enjoyable whether you're connecting with family and friends, watching a favorite movie or TV program on the internet, or scrolling through your social media feeds. The speed and reliability of Air Canada Wi-Fi will also make it an excellent productivity tool for business travelers, who will be able to keep in touch and work during their journey so they can stay up-to-date and arrive fully prepared for any meeting or event," said Benjamin Smith, President, Passenger Airlines, at Air Canada.
Air Canada Satellite Wi-Fi is now available on the airline's Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and on Air Canada Rouge's narrow-body fleet. The entire Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge wide-body fleet – including the Boeing 777-200LR, 787-8/9 and Airbus 330 and Air Canada Rouge Boeing 767-300ER – is scheduled to be equipped with the system by mid-2019. Customers can choose from a selection of Wi-Fi packages to suit their needs and Air Canada is offering special introductory pricing for the service starting at $5 on the airline's Boeing 777-300ER fleet until August 31, 2018. Customers can determine if a flight has Wi-Fi available by an icon displayed at time of booking or, for upcoming flights, by consulting aircanada.com/wifi.
In addition to the satellite connectivity available on Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and the Air Canada Rouge Airbus narrow-body fleet, Air Canada and Air Canada Express also offer customers Wi-Fi connectivity through a ground-based system provided by Gogo on their narrow-body Airbus A319/320/321, Embraer 175/190 and Bombardier CRJ-900 aircraft travelling within North America.
YVR Celebrates new services to Zurich and Paris
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) celebrated the launch of two new, non-stop seasonal services: Air Canada's thrice-weekly service to Zurich that had its inaugural flight today and four-time weekly service to Paris, launching tomorrow. These new routes will further connect YVR's passengers with two key European cities.
"I would like to thank Air Canada for their ongoing support of YVR and providing our passengers with such exciting bucket-list travel destinations just in time for the busy summer season," said Anne Murray, Vice President, Airline Business Development and Public Affairs, Vancouver Airport Authority. "Both new services further connect Europe and British Columbia, providing new opportunities to grow commercial relations in business, technology, education and tourism."
These new services have a direct economic benefit, generating $10.8 million in total economic output for British Columbia. Air Canada will service the new routes with their state-of-the-art 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, featuring Air Canada's Signature Class lie-flat pod suites, Premium Economy and Economy Class seats.
"We are delighted to launch new non-stop flights from Vancouver to Zurich and to Paris, both onboard our state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The strategic addition of these seasonal international flights further strengthens our YVR hub which combined with our extensive North American network, provides excellent options for travelers from BC and the North American west coast to Europe, and as well as for European visitors and beyond to western Canada and the Pacific Northwest," said Benjamin Smith.
These new routes are in addition to a slew of expanded air services Air Canada has introduced at YVR in the last year. This includes new flights to Denver, Dallas, Boston, Melbourne, Taipei, Nagoya, Frankfurt, Yellowknife, Orlando and Sacramento. The airline also expanded service on their pre-existing routes to Delhi, San Diego, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Jose.
New services such as these are made possible thanks to YVR's new five-year rates and charges program, ConnectYVR. The program provides a highly competitive rate structure and includes rates lower than any other major airport in Canada and competing US airports.
Air Canada inaugurates Montreal-Bucharest flights
The arrival of Air Canada flight 1928 at Bucharest's Henri Coanda International Airport marks the launch of twice weekly Air Canada Rouge seasonal service to Bucharest, Romania. Flights will be operated with Air Canada Rouge Boeing 767-300ER aircraft featuring Premium Rouge and Economy class service and are timed to optimize connectivity from across Air Canada's network through Air Canada's Montreal hub.
"As the only North American airline flying to Romania, the largest European market without trans-Atlantic flights, we are extremely proud to launch our first Montreal-Bucharest flight, strengthening even further Air Canada's presence in Southeastern Europe," said Benjamin Smith. "Air Canada's on-going commitment to grow Montreal as an important hub in our global network provides customers greater choice, as well as the ability to conveniently connect onward through our extensive North American and International network."
"I welcome Air Canada's initiative to create this direct air link between Montreal and Bucharest. The creation of all these new direct international routes from Montreal allows us to open up our economy to the world and contributes to the flow of talent and investment. We must continue to develop close ties between our cities as well as encourage bilateral exchanges, be they business, personal, cultural, academic or tourist," said Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante.
"Starting Today, Canada and Romania are three hours closer. This new link will make it easier for investors and tourists from both Romania and Canada to travel either for business or leisure. It also brings closer families and friends of the large Canadian-Romanian community in the Montreal area. I wish Air Canada every success with its new direct service to Bucharest," said Adrian Ligor, Charge d'Affaires at the Romanian Embassy in Canada.
"With the addition of Bucharest to its long list of destinations already offered from Montreal-Trudeau, Air Canada is once again improving our air service and confirming our status as the most international airport in the country," said Aeroport de Montreal President and Chief Executive Officer Philippe Rainville. "This new link is excellent news for the Romanian community of Montreal, for travellers eager to discover the charms of this city rich in history, and for the business community. A new door to the world has just opened for them, and we are very proud of it!" said Philippe Rainville.
"The Montreal-Bucharest flight is the first direct air link between North America and Romania. It paves the way for the deepening of bilateral trade between Romania and Canada, be it commercial, personal, cultural or tourist. This is very good news for the Romanian business community in Quebec, which in recent years has seen some of the most dynamic growth in Canada. I congratulate Air Canada and Aeroports de Montreal for their initiative and efforts to put this service in place. Air Canada can count on our support to help make this new direct air link a success", said Mrs. Adina Georgescu, President of the Romanian Chamber of Commerce of Quebec.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
