Showing posts with label Air Canada. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Air Canada. Show all posts

10 March, 2024

Air Canada and CAE Announce 2024 Judy Cameron Scholarship Winners

Air Canada and CAE Announce 2024 Judy Cameron Scholarship Winners


    • The two global aviation companies continue to foster the next generation of women in aviation 
      • Eight women awarded Judy Cameron scholarships as program celebrates fifth anniversary 


Air Canada and CAE Announce 2024 Judy Cameron Scholarship WinnersEarlier this month on International Women's Day, Air Canada and CAE are proud to announce the eight winners of the 2024 Captain Judy Cameron Scholarships. The two Montreal-based global aviation companies have again joined forces, to award scholarships to eight women from across Canada who are pursuing careers as commercial pilots or aircraft maintenance engineers. The four CAE recipients training to become commercial pilots will become CAE Women in Flight program ambassadors and play a key role in encouraging more women to pursue careers in aviation.

The Captain Judy Cameron Scholarship, now in its fifth year, was established in honour of Air Canada's first female pilot. Scholarships are awarded annually by Air Canada and CAE in conjunction with the Northern Lights Aero Foundation, to foster the next generation of women in aviation.

"Air Canada takes great pride in its leadership role in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the aviation industry. Women are well represented across all levels and branches of our airline," said Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer, and Public Affairs at Air Canada. "The Judy Cameron Scholarship actively works to support and empower the next generation of women pursuing non-traditional aviation STEM careers. Congratulations to this year's winners."

"CAE is proud to be a leader in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in aviation. Initiatives like CAE's Women in Flight Program and the Captain Judy Cameron Scholarships are critical to attracting and supporting more women in making their dream of a career in aviation a reality," said Marie-Christine Cloutier, CAE's Vice President, Civil Aviation Performance, Strategy and Marketing. "CAE's Aviation Talent Forecast anticipates a global need for more than 1.3 million new aviation professionals by 2032, and attracting underrepresented groups, like women, will help keep the industry aloft and allow it to thrive."

"I'm incredibly excited that the Northern Lights Aero Foundation received a record number of applications for the Captain Judy Cameron scholarships this year. Kudos to Air Canada for initiating and building momentum for the program over the past five years, and to CAE for joining the effort in 2022 to encourage more women in their aviation careers," said Judy Cameron, Boeing 777 Captain at Air Canada (retired) and Director of the Northern Lights Aero Foundation. "Past recipients have become flight instructors, maintenance engineers, and commercial pilots across Canada. This year's recipients will inspire and support other women in their aviation journeys. Congratulations to the eight recipients and to Air Canada and CAE for generously funding the scholarships."

08 March, 2024

Air Canada introduces 100+ new rotating seasonal recipes, irresistible snacks and beverages delivered to every cabin with care and class

Photo Air Canada
One of the leading North American airlines has just announced a comprehensive upgrade of its award-winning menus for all customers, with 100+ new rotating seasonal recipes showcasing bigger, bolder flavours alongside craveable new snacks and beverages. 

Air Canada's new menu additions join the largest in-flight bar offering from any North American airline, as Air Canada continues to invest in adding even more comfort and convenience to the travel experience, with more to come throughout 2024. Air Canada also remains the only North American airline to offer hot, fresh kids' meals to purchase through its North American Bistro program, highlighting its commitment to family travel.

We're incredibly proud to introduce these delicious new dining options, featuring homegrown Canadian products and ingredients reflecting the diversity of Canada and our customers' tastes and preferences," said Scott O'Leary, Vice President, Loyalty & Product at Air Canada. "The thought and care we've brought to elevating our menus, and bringing fresh new flavours for all, is one of the many ways we're investing in every aspect of our customers' journey to make travel even better."

The airline's new and upgraded culinary program spotlights the influence of Air Canada's long-standing award-winning culinary partners Chef David Hawksworth, Chef Vikram Vij, and Chef Jérôme Ferrer in showcasing flavours, textures and fresh, quality ingredients that sing at cruising altitude, which are complemented by wine selections from award-winning Air Canada sommelier Véronique Rivest.

Raising the Bar for Economy Dining

International Economy travellers can excite their taste buds with new global flavours like red Thai chicken and rice, chicken cacciatore with roast potatoes and bell peppers. This adds to Chef Ferrer's classic pesto penne on flights from Canada, and on longer flights that serve a hot breakfast, a new pancake and 100% pure Canadian maple syrup breakfast offering. On flights from Europe, travellers will enjoy new Monty's Bakehouse savoury pastries, including coconut chicken and potato sour cream and chive. These refreshed recipes also add to regional appetizers like soba noodles, chaat, hummus and vegetables, and more, recently introduced on all international routes.

Air Canada's upgraded Bistro menu, rolling out through spring 2024, boasts the most extensive selection of fresh buy-on-board options from any North American airline, with a hearty peppercorn roast beef sandwich, tasty cheeseburger sliders, and fresh new vegan options like Mediterranean hummus wraps. This is alongside a selection of alcoholic beverages unrivalled by any Canadian airline, including new premium crafted and Canadian-owned Tequila Tromba (all cabins in all markets, including Bistro) and iconic Campari (all premium cabins and Bistro).

01 March, 2024

Air Canada Named one of Montreal's Top Employers for the 11th Consecutive Year Photos(1)


Air Canada recognized for its human resource practices, comprehensive training programs, employee health and wellbeing programmes


Air Canada has once again been recognized as one of Montreal's top employers for 2024 in the latest edition of the Montréal's Top Employers Awards. This respected award is a reflection of the company's commitment to employees and its continuous efforts to create a positive and inclusive work environment.

With more than 10,000 employees in Montreal and up to 1,094 weekly flights at its Montreal-Trudeau global hub connecting Montreal to 89 destinations across Canada and internationally, Air Canada is a significant contributor to Montreal's economic success. Air Canada is Canada's largest private sector company offering bilingual services across Canada and is proud to offer services in both Official Languages, demonstrating true leadership among major Canadian companies in promoting bilingualism. 

"We are thrilled to be recognized as one of Montreal's Top Employers for the 11th consecutive year! This is a moment of immense pride for all of us, especially for the more than 10,000 Air Canada employees who live and work here in Montreal and where our global headquarters are located. We have continually invested in our people programs focusing on employee health and well-being, and comprehensive training programs, and this recognition demonstrates our people-centric approach to our employees and our dedication to fostering a positive and inclusive work environment where everyone is valued and has the opportunity to thrive," said Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer and Public Affairs.

Other recognitions Air Canada has received for its people programs include:

One of the Achievers 50 Most Engaged Workplaces for the sixth consecutive year
One of Montreal's Top Employers for 2023 by Mediacorp Canada for the 10th consecutive year
One of Canada's Best Employers 2023 by Forbes for the eighth consecutive year
Winner of the 2023 HRD Innovative HR Teams Award for Forward-Thinking HR Programs




Your travel planning isn’t complete without learning the language—or at least some essential phrases. Fully immerse yourself in the language, or use Phrasebook to learn travel essentials—the choice is yours!

29 February, 2024

Air Canada Cargo Named 2024 ATW Cargo Operator of the Year

First Canadian operator to receive the award


Air Canada and Air Canada Cargo are honoured to have been named the 2024 Cargo Operator of the Year as part of the 50th annual ATW Airline Industry Achievement Awards, the first Canadian operator to be bestowed the award.

Air Canada Cargo was recognized for its digital transformation as a key pillar of its commercial strategy, including a customer-centric digital environment that provides valuable self-serve scheduling and booking tools. Air Canada Cargo has also moved customer accounts to a cloud-based system, reducing the need for paper air waybills.

"We are extremely honoured to be recognized by ATW as Cargo Operator of the Year for 2024. I thank the thousands of dedicated employees at Air Canada Cargo who work tirelessly to ensure the unique needs of all of our customers are met and that essential goods keep moving around the globe. We have continued to invest in technology that allows us to find efficiencies and provide our customers with the best service possible. As a true global combination carrier, we have been able to provide consistent capacity worldwide through the flexibility our freighter fleet and expansive passenger widebody network provides," said Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President, Revenue and Network Planning.

23 February, 2024

Canadian budget carrier Lynx Air to end operations this weekend.

The Canadian budget airline Lynx Air has confirmed it will be halting all operations from 12:01 a.m. MT on Monday, February 26th.  

The airline said the decision to cease operations was a very difficult decision one to make and its management team had worked tirelessly to find a solution to keep going but had encountered several challenges along the way.  "The decision was made quickly to wind down operations while leaving enough time to get our crews and as many of our passengers as possible home." the carrier said. 

Lynx Air had put a lot of work and effort into the growth and expansion over the past two years, in a crowded Canadian commercial aviation industry.  However, the compounding financial pressures associated with inflation, fuel costs, exchange rates, cost of capital, regulatory costs along with the highly competitive marketplace have ultimately proven too be too much for the fledgling airline to conquer.  

Lynx Air advised that it would try to ensure to bring as many of its passengers back home as possible up to its last flights over the weekend. The airline is notifying passengers via email if their flight has been cancelled.  

The airline stated:  "We hope in our absence that our vision to Inspire More Canadians to Fly leaves its mark on our passengers. Offering low fares to inspire Canadians to fly more and to spend more enjoying time with loved ones in beloved destinations was a great privilege. Thank you for supporting us in our journey. - We are thankful for the loyalty of our passengers who value our ultra-low-cost carrier model. We know this is a shock to many and our goal is to make the wind-down of our operations as seamless as possible. It has been a privilege to serve you."

Air Canada said today it will cap fares and add more than 6,000 seats in select markets operated by Lynx Air in response to the airline's announcement that it is suspending operations beginning February 26, 2024. The measures are to provide Lynx Air customers affected by the carrier's shutdown affordable options in the Economy cabin on Air Canada flights for travel within Canada, to the US and to Cancun in Mexico so they can return home or make alternative travel arrangements for planned winter trips.

Canada's other big carrier, WestJet said it was aware that Lynx Air has initiated CCAA proceedings and the resulting news that Lynx intends to cease operations at 12:01 a.m. MT on Monday, February 26, 2024.

It made the following statement,  "We recognize the immediate impact this information has on passengers and employees of Lynx, and we are committed to assisting where we can through a number of actions:

New Bookings: 25% discount, by using discount code WESTJET, on all economy cabin fares on non-stop WestJet routes prviously served by Lynx, for travel between February 22, 2024 and October 26, 2024, booking to be made up until February 29, 2024.
Canadian repatriation for transborder and sun: Fares are capped at $250 plus taxes and fees on all northbound economy cabin fares, on non-stop WestJet routes previously served by Lynx, for travel up until February 29, 2024, booking to be made before February 29, 2024.
All domestic fares on non-stop WestJet routes previously served by Lynx, for travel up until February 29, 2024, will not exceed $500 plus taxes and fees.
All bookings should be made online through westjet.com. WestJet has managed pricing to ensure fares reflect a reduction from what would typically be charged. 

We are communicating closely with government officials and supporting agencies that are also working to address the needs of those impacted."

The Canadian Transport Agency advised Lynx Air passengers the following:

Passengers who are stranded or who have purchased a ticket for future travel with Lynx Air should contact their travel agent or transportation provider as soon as possible to see if it is possible to make alternative arrangements. If not, they may need to secure their own alternative travel arrangements.
Passengers who paid for their tickets by credit card should contact their credit card company to see what they are eligible for.
If travel insurance was purchased, passengers should contact the insurance company to see if their coverage includes such circumstances.
If passengers purchased their travel arrangements from a travel agent that is registered in Ontario, Quebec or British Columbia, they may be eligible for a refund from the provincial government authorities responsible for travel. 

22 February, 2024

Air Canada expands regional services with luxury motorcoach land-air connections


Multimodal pilot project with The Landline Company to link Hamilton and Region of Waterloo airports to Toronto Pearson

Premium, Canadian built motorcoaches are fully accessible and offer spacious leather seats with power outlets, complementary WiFi

Seamless connectivity with full itinerary protection, baggage transfers, Aeroplan point earning

Air Canada today announced that it has partnered with The Landline Company to connect airports in Hamilton and Waterloo Region with the airline's Toronto Pearson global hub. Customers will be able to book a single itinerary combining a luxury motorcoach service with Air Canada flights for a seamless, convenient and more sustainable journey. Now available for booking, the multimodal service will begin operating as a pilot project from John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport and the Region of Waterloo International Airport in May 2024, with the potential to make it available elsewhere in Canada in the future.

Now available for booking, the multimodal service will begin operating as a pilot project from John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport and the Region of Waterloo International Airport in May 2024. (CNW Group/Air Canada)

"Air Canada is focused on improving regional services and through this innovative partnership with The Landline Company, we are connecting communities and extending our network by offering customers a convenient, stress-free multimodal option," said Alexandre Lefevre, Vice President Network Planning, North America, and Scheduling, at Air Canada. "Customers travelling between airports on Landline's premium motorcoaches will enjoy the same benefits as those making air-only connections, including the convenience of a single itinerary, through-checked baggage when departing Hamilton or Region of Waterloo, disruption protection and Aeroplan earning opportunities. We will look to further expand our regional network in Canada through our Landline partnership, as it also advances our sustainability programs by potentially removing tens of thousands of vehicles from the road each year."

"We are proud to partner with Air Canada to provide seamless connections to their world-class Toronto gateway. Every day, thousands of customers face a stressful, time-consuming journey from Hamilton and Waterloo Region to Toronto Pearson airport," said Nick Johnson, Vice President, Commercial for Landline, which is based in Colorado. "Customers will love letting Landline and Air Canada do the driving for them, enjoying a connected experience while relaxing on one of our luxury motorcoaches."

How it works

Landline will operate six, non-stop round trips daily to Toronto Pearson from each of the Hamilton and Region of Waterloo airports in southern Ontario. Air Canada customers beginning their journey at Hamilton or Region of Waterloo airports will check in as normal for their flight and obtain boarding passes for all segments of their trip. At a designated departure point at the local airport, they will board a luxury, Air Canada-branded motorcoach and their checked baggage will be loaded. Upon arrival at Toronto Pearson, customers will proceed directly through security screening, while checked bags will be automatically transferred to the onward connecting flight.

16 February, 2024

Air Canada Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Financial Results

Air Canada Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Financial Results


Air Canada has just released details of its fourth quarter and full year 2023 financial results, which show record full-year operating revenues of $21.833 billion, reflecting strong demand for air travel and Full-year operating income of $2.279 billion.



Fourth Quarter 2023 Financial Results

The following is an overview of Air Canada's results of operations and financial position for the fourth quarter 2023 compared to the fourth quarter 2022.

  • Operating revenues of $5.175 billion increased $495 million or 11 per cent on an operated capacity growth of over 9 per cent year over year, close to the guidance provided in Air Canada's news release dated October 30, 2023.
  • Operating expenses of $5.096 billion increased $388 million or 8 per cent. The increase was due to higher costs in nearly all line items reflecting higher operated capacity and traffic year over year, including higher wages, salaries and benefits. The increase was partially offset by lower aircraft fuel expense on a jet fuel price decline.
  • Operating income of $79 million, with an operating margin of 1.5 per cent, improved $107 million.
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $521 million, with an adjusted EBITDA margin* of 10.1 per cent, improved $132 million.
  • Net income of $184 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.41 compared to a net income of $168 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.41.
  • Adjusted net loss* of $44 million and adjusted loss per diluted share of $0.12 compared to an adjusted net loss of $217 million and adjusted loss per diluted share of $0.61.
  • Adjusted CASM* of 14.25 cents compared to 13.68 cents, an increase of 4.1 per cent driven by higher salaries, wages and benefits expenses, higher maintenance costs and general inflationary pressures on certain line items.
  • Net cash flows from operating activities of $985 million increased $338 million.
  • Free cash flow of $669 million increased $349 million. 

Full Year 2023 Financial Results

The following is an overview of Air Canada's results of operations and financial position for the full year 2023 compared to the full year 2022.

  • Operating revenues of $21.833 billion increased $5.277 billion or 32 per cent on approximately a 20 per cent growth in operated capacity. The capacity increase was in-line with the guidance provided in Air Canada's news release dated October 30, 2023.
  • Operating expenses of $19.554 billion increased $2.811 billion or 17 per cent. The increase was primarily due to increases in all line items reflecting higher operated capacity and traffic year over year, including, higher salaries, wages and benefits. It also reflects the impact of a favourable maintenance cost adjustment of $159 million that was recorded in the first quarter of 2022.
  • Operating income of $2.279 billion, with an operating margin of 10.4 per cent, improved $2.466 billion.
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $3.982 billion, with an adjusted EBITDA margin* of 18.2 per cent, improved $2.525 billion, at the high end of the guidance provided in Air Canada's news release dated October 30, 2023.
  • Net income of $2.276 billion and diluted earnings per share of $5.96 compared to a net loss of $1.7 billion and diluted loss per share of $4.75.
  • Adjusted net income of $1.713 billion and adjusted earnings per diluted share of $4.56 compared to an adjusted net loss of $988 million and an adjusted loss per diluted share of $2.76.
  • Adjusted CASM of 13.49 cents compared to 13.21 cents in 2022, a 2.2 per cent increase driven by higher traffic and selling costs correlated to higher revenues, higher labour costs, a favourable maintenance cost adjustment recorded in 2022, and inflationary pressure on certain line items. This was within the guidance range provided in Air Canada's news release dated October 30, 2023.
  • Net cash flows from operating activities of $4.320 billion increased $1.952 billion.
  • Free cash flow of $2.756 billion increased $1.960 billion.
  • Net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio* was 1.1 at December 31, 2023, an improvement from 5.1 as at December 31, 2022, due to the increase in adjusted EBITDA and a $2.9 billion reduction in net debt. 
"Air Canada produced very strong results for the fourth quarter and full year 2023, delivering on its key financial goals and strategic priorities. For the full year, we had record operating revenues of $21.8 billion, up 32 per cent from 2022 as demand for air travel remained strong. Annual operating income was $2.3 billion; a $2.5 billion improvement from the previous year. Our adjusted EBITDA was nearly $4 billion; more than twice that of the full year 2022. 

These results stem from the effective management, hard work and customer-centric approach of everyone at Air Canada. I thank the entire team for their dedication as we safely transported more than 46 million passengers in 2023. The focus on operational improvements was evident as, even with the growth in traffic and ongoing supply chain challenges, our key operational metrics and customer satisfaction improved year over year," said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada.

10 February, 2024

Air Canada Announces Scholarships for Aspiring Aircraft Maintenance Engineers at 7 Technical Colleges Across the Country

Open to women and visible minorities, one recipient per school will receive $1,500 towards their education

Strengthens airline's commitment to supporting access for under-represented students in this highly desirable career

Air Canada has formed an agreement with seven colleges across the country to provide financial assistance to students who self-identify as women or visible minorities who are pursuing studies as Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AMEs). This new scholarship strengthens Air Canada's commitment to supporting access for under-represented students in this highly desirable career path.


One student from each school will receive a $1,500 scholarship to assist with the cost of their education to become AMEs. Students who are awarded a scholarship will be offered an opportunity for a work placement at Air Canada Maintenance. The initial agreement with the schools is for three years.


"Air Canada is committed to fostering the next generation of AMEs and we are proud to collaborate with these schools from across Canada. This scholarship is in addition to other programs we have in place, such as workplace integrated learning, and will help traditionally under-represented students move forward with their education in this exciting, professional STEM field," said Joshua Vanderveen, Vice President of Maintenance at Air Canada. "Today's AMEs are highly skilled people who require technical expertise, critical thinking skills, effective, collaborative problem-solving abilities in working with some of the most complex and advanced commercial aircraft. Through initiatives like this, Air Canada is working to help the Canadian aviation industry continue developing skilled AMEs to support commercial flights."

02 February, 2024

Air Canada introduces new measures for customers with disabilities under accelerated accessibility plan

Air Canada said it has become the first airline in North America to adopt the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program to better serve customers with non-visible disabilities. In announcing the measure, the carrier also confirmed the first appointments to its new Customer Accessibility Advisory Committee, which will guide the carrier as it accelerates its three-year accessibility plan.


"Air Canada is the first airline in North America to adopt the Sunflower program, which will enable us to better assist and serve our customers with non-visible disabilities such as autism. Our customers make 1.3 million accessibility requests each year and this initiative further demonstrates our commitment to improve accessibility, which we are reinforcing through the creation of a Customer Accessibility Advisory Committee. Consisting of customers with disabilities from accessibility groups in Canada, the committee will contribute to heightened awareness and help us identify barriers and develop solutions," said Tom Stevens, Vice President, Customer Experience and Operations Strategy, at Air Canada.

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a globally recognized program that employs the use of a discreet sunflower symbol to identify customers with non-visible disabilities. By choosing to wear the Sunflower lanyard, Air Canada customers can indicate to airline staff that they may require additional assistance, have specific needs, or simply require more time while travelling. In support of the program, Air Canada is training and building awareness amongst all customer-facing employees to recognize and respond appropriately to participating customers. The lanyard is available at check-in counters at Hidden Disability Sunflower member airports in Canada and on board all flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge and Air Canada Express.

"We are delighted for Air Canada to become the first airline in North America to officially launch the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program. Air Canada and the Sunflower are aligned in our commitment to ensure that Sunflower wearers are recognized and receive the additional support, understanding and kindness they need during their air travel journey," said Paul White, Chief Executive Officer of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme Ltd., a private company based in the UK that manages the global program.

Paul Rogers, a director on the board of Brain Injury Canada and a member of the Air Canada Customer Accessibility Advisory Committee, said: "It gives you great confidence, in that you know that you can be seen. It's a very visual tool without me having or anyone having to explain and have that conversation.  And it's reassuring knowing that there's somebody who's got your back. Who's there and can see what's going on and help you out."

Customer Accessibility Advisory Committee

Air Canada committed in its three-year Air Canada Accessibility Plan to establish an advisory group of customers with disabilities. The committee will provide input from the perspective of our customers with disabilities to help guide Air Canada's path and vision in accessibility as part of its Elevating the Customer Experience program. The advisory group will initially have representatives from four Canadian accessibility groups, including: Donna Jodhan, Barrier Free Canada; Paul Rogers, Brain Injury Canada; Isabelle Ducharme, Kéroul; and Joanne Smith, Spinal Cord Injury Canada.

Accelerated Accessibility Plan

In November 2023, Air Canada announced it was accelerating the Air Canada Accessibility Plan through a series of measures to remove barriers and improve the travel experience for its customers with disabilities. These included:

Boarding: Customers at the gate who request lift assistance will be consistently boarded first before all other customers and proactively seated at the front of the cabin they booked. Air Canada is investing significantly in new equipment at Canadian airports, such as lifts, to ensure that we can meet the expectations of our customers.

Storage of mobility aids: Mobility aids will be stored in the aircraft cabin when possible. When mobility aids are stored in the cargo hold, new systems are being put in place to track them in transit, including a process to confirm mobility aids are properly loaded before departure. Customers travelling within Canada are now able to track the journey of their mobility aid using the Air Canada app.

Training: Enhanced training will be supplied to improve all aspects of employee interactions with customers with disabilities, including understanding customer experiences in air travel. Air Canada's approximately 10,000 airport employees will receive this training as part of a new annual, recurrent training program.

Responsibility: Air Canada has created the new senior position of Director, Customer Accessibility.  The director will lead a team to manage implementation of the company's accessibility plan as well as provide a resource and common reference point for responsive management of disability issues.

26 January, 2024

TD and Air Canada celebrate the 10th anniversary of Aeroplan partnership with a compilation of the top travel trends for 2024

For more than a decade TD has offered TD Aeroplan co-brand credit cards helping Canadians earn Aeroplan points and get to their travel goals faster



The Toronto-Dominion Bank is celebrating a 10-year milestone as the primary credit card issuer for Aeroplan, Canada's Top Airline Loyalty Program. The first TD Aeroplan credit cards were issued in January 2014, and have provided more than 1 million Canadians with accelerated Aeroplan point-earning potential, Air Canada travel benefits and flexible redemption options ever since:1 

TD Aeroplan credit cardholders have travelled to over 1,800 destinations worldwide with Air Canada and 45+ partners2
Aeroplan members earned over 300 billion Aeroplan points on TD Aeroplan credit cards1
TD Aeroplan credit cardholders have redeemed more than 6 million rewards2. They're redeeming not just on flight rewards for big destinations, but also for short-haul flights for as few as 6,000 points3, car rentals, hotels, everyday purchases like Starbucks rewards and more

“We’re thrilled to have achieved this significant milestone with Air Canada. Canadians have come to rely on TD Aeroplan credit cards as one of the fastest ways to earn rewards, and enjoy benefits to help them travel better,” said Meg McKee, Senior Vice President, Canadian Card Payments, Loyalty & Personal Lending, “Whether it’s the ever popular free first checked bag, Maple Leaf Lounge TM access or Priority Airport Services that come with select cards, TD Aeroplan cardholders are enjoying a travel loyalty program experience that only teaming up with Canada’s flag carrier can bring.”​ 

Reflecting on this 10-year milestone, some emerging travel trends that are expected to continue into 2024 include2:

Going Further, Staying Longer: Travellers are checking more off their bucket list with long stays at more far-off destinations like Thailand, Australia and Singapore. They’re investing more, but also using features, like Aeroplan’s a 4th Night Free, to make extended stays more affordable. 
Chasing Stars: Moments in pop culture are influencing destination choices. Whether they’re jet setting off to an arena concert or visiting the shoot location of their favourite hotel-based drama series, show business inspiration is bringing travellers to a wider range of destinations.

Air Canada Honoured as a Top Employer for Young People in Canada 2024


Air Canada is proud to announce that it has been recognized as one of the top employers for young people in Canada in 2024, the first time the airline has received this recognition. This honour, awarded by Mediacorp Canada Inc., celebrates the nation's leading organizations for their commitment to developing and nurturing young professionals. through innovative and forward-thinking programs for young workers, including mentorship, training, career opportunities, and social responsibility.


"We are thrilled to be recognized as a top employer for young people in Canada," said Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer and Public Affairs at Air Canada. "Air Canada has long been recognized for creating a positive work environment that supports employee development and fulfillment. As we continue implementing our global business strategies, fostering the next generation of people and talent remains a key priority, and we are proud to offer leading programs and opportunities to support their career growth."

Each employer was evaluated by the editors of Canada's Top 100 Employers based on the programs they offer to attract and retain younger workers. These include benefits such as tuition assistance and the availability of co-op or work-study programs, mentorship and training programs, career management programs, such as initiatives that can help younger workers advance more quickly within the organization.

Air Canada was selected as one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People in 2024 based on several criteria, including:

Paid internships across a variety of disciplines (engineering, marketing, business.
Offering a buddy system to help young professionals integrate into the organization, as well as numerous professional development opportunities.
Air Canada has recently been honoured with a series of awards for its people, culture and HR programs. Other recognitions include:

One of the Achievers 50 Most Engaged Workplaces for the sixth consecutive year
One of Montreal's Top Employers for 2023 by Mediacorp Canada for the 10th consecutive year
One of Canada's Best Employers 2023 by Forbes for the eighth consecutive year
Winner of the 2023 HRD Innovative HR Teams Award for Forward-Thinking HR Programs

24 January, 2024

Manulife and Aeroplan Partner to Give Millions of Canadians Access to Rewards in New, First-of-its-Kind Canadian Partnership

Manulife is Canada’s largest life insurance company and a leading provider of workplace health benefits, supporting and designing benefits plans that can improve key wellness indicators, drive employee engagement and productivity, and enable workplace cultures that are increasingly responsive to the changing needs of today’s workforce. Manulife’s group benefits business in Canada serves more than 25,000 employers, and approximately one in three Canadian households, with an ambition to increasingly leverage its health care experience to do more to help Canadians live longer, better, healthier lives.
              Manulife, one of Canada’s leading insurance providers, and Aeroplan, Canada’s premier travel loyalty program, are excited to announce a new, multi-year loyalty partnership. Through this first-of-its-kind agreement in Canada, the millions of Canadians who are eligible Manulife Group Benefits members will have the ability to earn Aeroplan points by engaging in behaviours and activities that encourage health and wellbeing.

This spring, Manulife will launch a modernized and upgraded benefits platform to offer members a digital-first user experience that integrates health, wellness and benefits into one place. With the addition of Aeroplan in early summer 2024, eligible Group Benefits members will be able to earn points for health and benefits-related activities, all while managing their overall wellbeing – from prevention to getting care – through an integrated and personalized experience. By engaging in health and wellness challenges, members will have the opportunity to earn points for completing healthy initiatives, like exercise minutes, mindfulness practices, and more. In addition, points will be rewarded for completion of educational courses and helpful benefits tips and tricks, like downloading the digital benefit card.

08 January, 2024

Air Canada reports strong operational performance over the peak holiday travel period

Air Canada today reported a strong operational performance for the year-end holiday travel period, during which nearly 2.6 million customers were transported safely. The airline achieved some of its best operational results in a decade, including completing 98 per cent of scheduled flights, with an on-time performance of 70 per cent.

"We thank our customers for entrusting their travel to Air Canada and I am proud that we delivered on our promise to transport them safely and conveniently. Over the holidays we carried about 2.6 million customers on more than 20,000 flights, with an on-time performance of 70 per cent. Our success was the result of extensive advance preparations and the hard work of our people, helped by moderate winter weather. With a clear focus on our customers and on improving the stability and resilience of our operation, we have implemented a range of initiatives to ensure we continue to improve our operational performance into 2024 and beyond," said Craig Landry, Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer at Air Canada.

Operational Results

This holiday season, the peak travel period for Air Canada occurred between December 18, 2023, and January 6, 2024. Operational highlights include:

Approximately 2.6 million customers flew on Air Canada, about 10 per cent more customers than in the same period in 2022. This is equivalent to moving nearly the entire combined population of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, or everyone in Canada's Atlantic provinces.
On-time-performance (OTP), measured by the industry standard of arrival within 15 minutes of scheduled time, was 70 per cent. This is a dramatic increase from 40 per cent in 2022, when severe winter weather disrupted travel, and well above the last pre-pandemic holiday period in 2019, when OTP was 54 per cent.
The average delay, when one occurred, was 37 minutes, which is a 43% reduction from 2022 and 10% better than the last pre-pandemic holiday period in 2019. There were 20,075 flights operated, with a completion rate of 98 per cent. This resulted in a 80% reduction in cancelled flights as compared to 2022, and an 71% reduction as compared to the last pre-pandemic holiday period in 2019.
The average delay, when one occurred, was 37 minutes, which is a 43 per cent reduction from 2022 and 10 per cent better than the last pre-pandemic holiday period in 2019. There were 20,075 flights operated, with a completion rate of 98 per cent. This resulted in a 80 per cent reduction in cancelled flights as compared to 2022, and an 71 per cent reduction as compared to the last pre-pandemic holiday period in 2019.
The volume of delayed or mishandled bags dropped by a sharp 58 per cent as compared to the prior year, translating into a baggage handling success rate of 98.6 per cent. This year, customers travelling domestically benefitted from a new tracking feature on the Air Canada Mobile App that lets them monitor the progress of their bag at key points in the journey.
For the period, excluding the peak pandemic year of 2020, Air Canada achieved its best results in a decade for flight arrivals within 15 minutes, flight completion, fewest cancelled flights and for baggage delivery.

Operational Improvements

15 December, 2023

Air Canada adds Tulum and Charleston to Global Network; Boosts Capacity on Key North American Markets in Summer 2024 as Airline Continues Strategic Network Growth

First Canadian airline to offer service to Tulum, Mexico's newest international airport, and to Charleston, SC

New Montreal to Austin and St. Louis flights

Increased frequencies on key Canadian domestic routes and early resumption of popular seasonal routes


Air Canada has announced it is boosting its North American network capacity for summer 2024 with the addition of two new destinations, five new routes, increased flight frequencies on key routes, and earlier resumption of popular seasonal routes in response to projected demand. Air Canada becomes the first Canadian airline to offer service to Tulum*, with flights from Toronto and Montreal to the newest airport in Mexico's Yucatan peninsula, and to Charleston, SC from Toronto. Seats are now available for purchase at aircanada.com, via the Air Canada app, Air Canada's contact centres and through travel agents. Flights to Tulum will be available for sale on 15th December.


"We are excited to add two brand new destinations to our global network, Tulum, Mexico from our Toronto and Montreal hubs, and Charleston, South Carolina from Toronto, plus new Austin and St. Louis flights from Montreal in summer 2024. These new destinations and routes reflect Air Canada's market leadership and network diversification strategy of adding capacity to in-demand leisure destinations such as Tulum and fast-growing, key metropolitan areas in the US," said Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President, Revenue and Network Planning, at Air Canada.

"We are also very pleased to grow our North American network from coast to coast with additional frequencies in key markets including Ottawa, Calgary, Saskatoon and Regina, in regional markets, and by resuming major seasonal routes earlier. By adding scale to our Canadian hubs, we are offering more travel choices and unparalleled access to and from our worldwide network. We look forward to welcoming our customers onboard," concluded Mr. Galardo.

For summer 2024, Air Canada will be serving 120 destinations in Canada, the US and the Caribbean with up to 520 flights every day, translating to approximately 66,000 seats being dispatched, representing an increase of 5% percent North America and Caribbean seat capacity from 2023.

New destination: Tulum*, Mexico

"I celebrate this great announcement from Air Canada. Without connectivity there is no tourism, and the two new routes to the new Tulum International Airport, which is ready to receive five million passengers, will boost the arrival of tourists from our second most important source market for international tourists," stated Lic. Miguel Torruco Marqués, Secretario de Turismo, Mexico.

Flight

From

To

Departs

Arrives

Days of
Operation

Operation

AC1854

Toronto (YYZ)

Tulum (TQO)

08:15

11:20

Fri, Sun

Year-round, begins May 3

AC1855

Tulum (TQO)

Toronto (YYZ)

12:30

17:35

Fri, Sun

Year-round, begins May 3

AC1874

Montreal (YUL)

Tulum (TQO)

08:15

12:00

Sat

Year-round, begins May 4

AC1875

Tulum (TQO)

Montreal (YUL)

13:10

18:45

Sat

Year-round, begins May 4

*subject to government approval

New destination: Charleston, SC

"Charleston International Airport is delighted to welcome the addition of Toronto as an international destination, made possible by the introduction of Air Canada's daily flights providing a seamless link between Canada's largest metropolitan area and the Charleston Lowcountry. Not only does the new service connect two of the top cosmopolitan destinations worldwide, renowned for their extraordinary landmarks, rich culture, entertainment and leisure adventures, this route offers customers unmatched travel options and conveniences, whether travelling for leisure, visiting friends and family, or for business," said Elliott Summey, Executive Director and CEO at Charleston International Airport.

"Air Canada's announcement is a major milestone for our industry, the Charleston region and beyond. International visitation is integral to a healthy and sustainable tourism economy. While Canada is consistently our top country of origin for international visitors, we know there is tremendous untapped potential in the market. Beyond increasing access for leisure travellers, the daily, nonstop service creates more opportunity to recruit group business and provides improved connectivity for Charleston area residents travelling to Canada and other international destinations served through Air Canada's Toronto hub," said Helen Hill, CEO of Explore Charleston and Chair of the Aviation Authority Board.  

Flight

From

To

Departs

Arrives

Days of
Operation

Operation

AC8629

Toronto (YYZ)

Charleston (CHS)

18:40

20:58

Daily

Year-round, begins March 28

AC8628

Charleston (CHS)

Toronto (YYZ)

10:00

12:21

Daily

Year-round, begins, March 29

Other New Flights:

Air Canada is adding additional new flights to Austin and St. Louis from its Montreal hub, complementing its flights from Toronto and Vancouver to Austin, and from Toronto to St. Louis.

Flight

From

To

Departs

Arrives

Days of
Operation

Operation

AC1051

Montreal (YUL)

Austin (AUS)

17:15

20:32

Mon, Tue, Thur, Sat

Year-round, begins May 2

AC1050

Austin (AUS)

Montreal (YUL)

10:15

15:13

Sun, Tue, Wed, Fri

Year-round, begins May 3

AC8687

Montreal (YUL)

St. Louis (STL)

19:30

21:05

Daily

Summer, begins May 1

AC8688

St. Louis (STL)

Montreal (YUL)

12:00

15:23

Daily

Summer, begins May 2

North America Summer 2024 service improvements:

  • Air Canada is boosting its North American network from coast to coast with more flights added on major routes, and by resuming seasonal routes earlier.  
  • To meet projected demand, additional flights have been added to key markets including in Ottawa, Calgary, Saskatoon and Regina, as well as to growing regional markets.

Montreal Hub

Peak summer 2024 service improvements
compared to summer 2023 and seasonal
resumptions

Montreal (YUL) – Boston (BOS)

Increases to 4 daily flights from 3

Montreal (YUL) – Las Vegas (LAS)

Increases to 2 daily flights from 1

Montreal (YUL) – Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP)

Increases to 2 daily flights from 1

Montreal (YUL) – Phoenix (PHX)

Increases to 5 weekly flights from 3

Montreal (YUL) – Pittsburgh (PIT)

Resumes May 1, daily flights

Montreal (YUL) – Raleigh/Durham (RDU)

Resumes May 1, daily flights

Montreal (YUL) – San Diego (SAN)

Resumes May 1, daily flights

Montreal (YUL) – Edmonton (YEG)

Increases to 3 daily flights from 2

Montreal (YUL) – Gander (YQX)

Resumes June 14, daily flights

Montreal (YUL) – Iles de La Madeleine (YGR)

Resumes May 17, daily flights

Montreal (YUL) – Victoria (YYJ)

Increases to 5 weekly flights from 3

 

Toronto Hub

Peak summer 2024 service improvements
compared to summer 2023 and seasonal
resumptions

Toronto (YYZ) – Kansas City (MCI)

Resumes June 1, daily flights

Toronto (YYZ) – Nashville (BNA)

Increases to 2 daily flights from 1

Toronto (YYZ) – Phoenix (PHX)

Increases to 2 daily flights from 1

Toronto (YYZ) – Portland (PDX)

Resumes May 1, daily flights

Toronto (YYZ) – Nassau (NAS)

Increases to 6 weekly flights from 4

Toronto (YYZ) – Sacramento (SMF)

Resumes May 1, 5 weekly flights

Toronto (YYZ) – Salt Lake City (SLC)

Resumes May 1, 4 weekly flights

Toronto (YYZ) – Gander (YQX)

Resumes June 1, daily flights

Toronto (YYZ) – Vancouver (YVR)

Increases to 14 daily flights from 13

Toronto (YYZ) – Victoria (YYJ)

Increases to 3 daily flights from 2

 

Vancouver Hub

Peak summer 2024 service improvements
compared to summer 2023 and seasonal
resumptions

Vancouver (YVR) – Anchorage (ANC)

Resumes May 14, daily flights

Vancouver (YVR) – Austin (AUS)

Resumes May 1, increases 4 weekly flights from 2 weekly

Vancouver (YVR)  Portland (PDX)

Increases to 4 daily flights from 3

Vancouver (YVR) – Washington Dulles (IAD)

Increases to daily from 5 weekly

Vancouver (YVR) – San Diego (SAN)

Increases to 3 daily flights from 2

Vancouver (YVR) – Sacramento (SMF)

Increases to 2 daily flights from 1

Vancouver (YVR) – Cranbrook (YXC)

Increases to 2 daily flights from 1

Vancouver (YVR) – Fort St. John (YXJ)

Increases to 4 daily flights from 3

Vancouver (YVR) – Halifax (YHZ)

Resumes May 1, 2 daily flights

Vancouver (YVR) – Prince George (YXS)

Increases to 4 daily flights from 3

Vancouver (YVR) – Terrace (YXT)

Increases to 5 daily flights from 4

Vancouver (YVR) – Toronto (YYZ)

Increases to 14 daily flights from 13

Vancouver (YVR) – Smithers (YYD)

Increases to 2 daily flights from 1

 

Routes from Saskatchewan

Peak summer 2024 service improvements
compared to summer 2023 and seasonal
resumptions

Regina (YQR) – Toronto (YYZ)

Increases to 4 daily non-stop flights from 3 daily

Regina (YQR) – Montreal (YUL)

Resumes June 1, daily non-stop standalone flights from one-stop

Saskatoon (YXE) – Toronto (YYZ)

Increases to 4 daily non-stop flights from 3 daily

Saskatoon (YXE) – Montreal (YUL)

Resumes June 2, daily non-stop standalone flights from one-stop

Saskatoon (YXE) – Vancouver (YVR)

Increases to 4 daily flights from 3 daily

 

Routes from other airports

Peak summer 2024 service improvements
compared to summer 2023 and seasonal
resumptions

Ottawa (YOW) – Washington-National (DCA)

Resumes May 1, daily flights

Ottawa (YOW) – Calgary (YYC)

Resumes May 1, daily flights

Ottawa (YOW) – Winnipeg (YWG)

Resumes May 1, daily flights

Ottawa (YOW) – Vancouver (YVR)

Operating 3 daily flights – including 1 flight with 787 Dreamliner

Halifax (YHZ) – St. Johns (YYT)

Increases to 5 daily flights from 4 daily

Halifax (YHZ) – Vancouver (YVR)

Resumes May 1, up to 2 daily flights

Calgary (YYC) – Winnipeg (YWG)

Operating 2 daily flights with larger aircraft

Calgary (YYC) – Edmonton (YEG)

Increases to 4 daily flights from 3 daily

Edmonton (YEG) – Montreal (YUL)

Increases to 3 daily flights from 2

Victoria (YYJ) – Montreal (YUL)

Increase to 5 weekly flights from 3

Victoria (YYJ) – Toronto (YYZ)

Increases to 3 daily flights from 2






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