Air Canada increases service to Ottawa

Air Canada is boosting its schedule serving Canada's capital, Ottawa, by almost 60 per cent with flights to Calgary and Winnipeg now operating year-round, increased flights providing additional capacity to Halifax and Quebec City, and the addition of widebody service to Vancouver. Additional schedule improvements include more flights to popular leisure destinations Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Orlando, Cancun and Punta Cana this winter.

Up to 30 additional weekly flights for winter season compared to last year

Non-stop flights to Calgary and Winnipeg extended to year-round

Additional capacity added to Quebec, Halifax and Vancouver

More flights to Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Orlando, Cancun and Punta Cana for winter 2024

"Ottawa is an important part of Air Canada's network and in response to demand, we are growing our capacity to our nation's capital city by almost 60 per cent compared to 2023. We are very excited to add more flights to the rest of the country with the extension of key non-stop routes to year-round and additional capacity to other cities. We are also adding capacity to popular sun destinations and in conjunction with our joint venture partner United Airlines, increasing options for travel to and from the U.S.," said Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President, Revenue and Network Planning, at Air Canada.

"I'm delighted to see Air Canada significantly increase air service in and out of Ottawa. This is great news for Ottawa's economy and recognizes the importance and vibrancy of the Ottawa market on the world stage. It's particularly welcome news for the tourism industry, for business owners, and for Ottawa residents travelling to destinations throughout North America," said Mark Sutcliffe, Mayor of Ottawa.

"Air Canada, a long-standing provider of frequent and reliable service to YOW, reinforces its presence with this notable capacity increase for the winter season. Timely and strategic, these flights cater to the needs of Ottawa-Gatineau residents as they jet off to their favourite destinations or welcome visitors from afar," said Joel Tkach, Vice President of business Development & Marketing, Ottawa International Airport Authority.

Air Canada starts motorcoach service connecting Hamilton and region of Waterloo airport with Toronto Pearson

Air Canada has begun offering residents of the Hamilton-Wentworth and Waterloo Region more convenient, one-stop access to the airline's global network and a world of travel possibilities.

With the launch of its new motorcoach service in collaboration with The Landline Company, Air Canada is connecting the Hamilton and the Region of Waterloo airports to Toronto Pearson. Customers can now create a single itinerary when booking travel with Air Canada from Waterloo Region or Hamilton through Toronto to any destination. The service includes a high-end motorcoach service connecting with Air Canada flights, offering a smooth and hassle-free travel experience. This integrated service is a trial initiative from John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport and the Region of Waterloo International Airport, with the potential to make it available elsewhere in Canada in the future.

"We are excited to launch this new service in collaboration with The Landline Company, offering our customers a convenient, stress-free multimodal option that will make connections easy and travel more seamless. We are committed to improving regional services and this innovative partnership is a testament to that," said Ranbir Singh, Director Regional Airlines and Markets at Air Canada. "Passengers who choose to travel between airports using Landline's top-tier motorcoaches will enjoy similar benefits as those who opt for air-only connections: a convenient single itinerary when departing Hamilton or the Region of Waterloo, disruption protection and Aeroplan earning opportunities."

"We are thrilled to launch our premium connecting service from Hamilton and the Region of Waterloo in partnership with Air Canada," said Nick Johnson, Vice President, Commercial for Landline. "In addition to premium onboard amenities, and a protected flight connection on every trip, passengers can now book and ride our luxury motorcoach for no additional cost when paired with their Air Canada flight."

"Today marks an exciting development for the future of air travel in southern Ontario as Air Canada's luxury motorcoaches, operated in partnership with The Landline Company, officially take to the road from Hamilton International," said Cole Horncastle, Executive Managing Director of John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport. "This innovative new service aligns with Hamilton International's commitment to provide a comfortable, convenient travel experience for passengers and expands access between our region and Air Canada's global network."

"At YKF we are investing and expanding in so many ways. We are thrilled to welcome Air Canada's motorcoach service, further connecting Waterloo Region to a network of 140-plus destinations," said Karen Redman, Chair of the Region of Waterloo. "We look forward to continuing to work together to build on an airport that offers options for every traveller."

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 with their bags to the departure level.

In the event of coach or flight delays, customers travelling on Landline will be automatically rebooked like customers travelling on air-only itineraries.  Members of Air Canada's Aeroplan program will earn points for both ground and air segments, as on any normal connecting flight itinerary. For more information see www.aircanada.com/landline 

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From	To	Day of Week	Departure Time	Arrival Time
Hamilton (YHM)	Toronto (YYZ)	Daily	5:00am 6:00am 10:45am 1:40pm 3:45pm 5:40pm	06:00am 06:55am 11:50am 2:45pm 5:00pm 6:50pm
Toronto (YYZ)	Hamilton (YHM)	Daily	8:05am 9:50am 1:00pm 3:05pm 6:00pm 9:40pm	9:10am 10:55am 2:05pm 4:20pm 7:20pm 10:40pm

 

From	To	Day of Week	Departure Time	Arrival Time
Kitchener/Waterloo (YKF)	Toronto (YYZ)	Daily	5:00am 6:05am 10:55am 1:40pm 3:50pm 5:45pm	6:05am 7:15am 12:05pm 2:55pm 5:15pm 7:00pm
Toronto (YYZ)	Kitchener/Waterloo (YKF)	Daily	8:15am 9:40am 1:15pm 3:15pm 6:15pm 9:35pm	9:30am 10:50am 2:25pm 4:40pm 7:35pm 10:40pm

Premium motorcoaches

The motorcoaches used by Landline for Air Canada are made in Canada by Prevost, a manufacturer of touring coaches based in Sainte-Claire, Quebec. Each Landline motorcoach provides a premium experience, with 36 spacious, leather seats in a two-by-one configuration. The coaches are equipped with free WiFi, power and a table tray available at each seat, generous overhead storage for carry-on baggage, and an onboard lavatory. Announcements will be made in both Official Languages and the coaches are fully accessible, including a power lift for customers requiring mobility aids.

Air Canada Regional Services 

Air Canada operates to 40 communities across Canada, including in partnership with regional carriers Jazz Aviation LP and PAL Airlines. Through its innovative new partnership with Landline, Air Canada is extending its regional network to conveniently connect local airports directly to its global network. There is potential to further expand the partnership with Landline to connect with other regional airports in Canada at a future date.

Air Canada Reports First Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Air Canada reports its first quarter 2024 financial results this week, demonstrating operating revenues of more than $5 billion. 

"Air Canada's solid first quarter results position our airline for a strong performance in 2024. We had operating revenues of $5.2 billion in the quarter, up $339 million from last year. Adjusted EBITDA grew by $42 million year over year to $453 million. I thank our employees for their hard work taking care of our 11 million customers and transporting them safely throughout the quarter. I also commend them for improving our operations, notably a 13 percentage-point increase in system-wide, on-time arrivals, preparing us for an anticipated busy summer period," said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada. 

"We are confident in our ability to deliver on our full year 2024 guidance. As we look toward the summer, we see a continued healthy demand environment, and our customers will have a wide range of exciting travel options across Europe, Asia, and North America, for their summer holiday planning.  

"In the quarter, we generated over $1 billion of free cash flow, mainly resulting from cash generated from operating activities. Our net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA ratio fell to 0.9 at the quarter's end. We also made further progress in our strategy to deleverage the balance sheet by reducing gross debt. Our accomplishments in this regard have been recognized by the credit rating agency community, more recently with S&P Global Ratings' latest upgrade to 'BB' from 'BB-' at the end of April. For the full year 2024, we remain certain of our ability to generate significant free cash flow. Our strong balance sheet will serve as the foundation on which we will grow our airline through investments in our world-class global network and the deployment of capital allocation strategies that will create sustainable, long-term value, for all of Air Canada and its shareholders," said Mr. Rousseau.

First Quarter 2024 Financial Results

• Operating revenues of $5.226 billion increased $339 million or 7% on an operated capacity growth of 11% year over year.
• Operating expenses of $5.215 billion increased $311 million or 6%. The increase was due to higher costs in nearly all line items reflecting higher operated capacity and traffic year over year, in addition to higher labour, maintenance and information technology expense. Lower fuel expense partially offset the increase.
• Operating income of $11 million, with an operating margin of 0.2%, improved $28 million.

Air Canada Introduces New Sports Channels to Live TV Service Just in Time for the Stanley Cup Playoffs

 Air Canada announced the addition of three new Live TV sports channels to its award-winning in-flight entertainment (IFE) system. Just in time for the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Sportsnet ONE and Sportsnet East are available today, while TVA Sports will be available in May, so Air Canada customers can cheer their favourite hockey team onboard select flights.

"We are extremely excited, as the only Canadian airline with Live TV, to show the Stanley Cup Playoffs onboard. Hockey is an integral part of the Canadian identity, so it only makes sense that we offer it in French and English to our customers as part of our extensive in-flight entertainment. These new channels further cement our dedication to Canada's game. Our commitment to hockey includes flying all seven Canadian teams, being a jersey sponsor of the Montreal Canadiens, and as official airline of the PWHL," said John Moody, Managing Director, Onboard Product at Air Canada.

Air Canada's Live TV experience is delivered through a satellite-connected solution, directly to the seat-back screen. Live TV programming on Air Canada flights is comprised of:

• Sportsnet ONE and Sportsnet East offer extensive coverage of the NHL and Stanley Cup Playoffs, Toronto Blue Jays and Toronto Raptors, as well as NBA, MLB, Grand Slam of Curling, and more (available only on domestic flights)
• TVA Sports offers extensive French-language coverage of the NHL and Stanley Cup Playoffs, WTA, Blue Jays and MLB games, UFC, EURO 2024 and more (available on domestic and transborder flights)
• TSN and RDS, delivering comprehensive live sports coverage of marquee sports events including this summer's UEFA EURO 2024 and CONMEBOL Copa América 2024™, as well as additional sports including hockey, basketball, football, baseball, golf and tennis majors, auto racing, and more

Air Canada to offer more flights to more destinations....

Air Canada is introducing more flights to more destinations across Europe and Asia this summer, along with a choice of 120 destinations in North America, to fulfil their summer travel plans. Alongside new and enhanced international routes to Singapore, Madrid, Stockholm, Osaka and Seoul, the carrier's Summer 2024 international capacity is growing by 30 per cent into Asia-Pacific and 25 per cent to key leisure destinations in Southern Europe compared to last Summer.

New international services to Singapore, Madrid, Stockholm, Osaka and Seoul

Over 30% additional capacity into Asia-Pacific with up to 87 weekly flights

25% increase to key leisure destinations in Southern Europe

120 destinations across North America, including new services to Charleston, South Carolina and Tulum, Mexico

Air Canada customers have a wide range of exciting options across Europe and Asia this summer, along with a choice of 120 destinations in North America. (CNW Group/Air Canada)

"We continue to see strong demand for southern European destinations, and have increased capacity to countries such as Italy, Greece and especially Spain for this summer. Air Canada is also focused on strategically expanding its Pacific hub in Vancouver and we are thrilled to have launched service to Singapore earlier this month, as well as increasing service to Hong Kong and Japan. With continued high demand for visiting friends, relatives and leisure travel, our increased services to key destinations give customers more options than ever before," said Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President, Revenue and Network Planning, at Air Canada.

"Within North America, Air Canada's domestic and trans-border network will grow to 120 destinations this summer, with the addition of Tulum, Mexico and Charleston, South Carolina, and be further strengthened by our joint business agreement with United Airlines. Taken together, our domestic, trans-border and international schedules, alongside our airline and intermodal partnerships, create a global network unrivalled among Canadian carriers. We have continued to build scale at our Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver hubs, each offering convenient and easy connections and such amenities as our Maple Leaf Lounges and Signature Suites in Toronto and Vancouver for our premium customers."

Air Canada and Jane Goodall Institute of Canada Spotlight Illegal Wildlife Trade and Biodiversity Challenges

Building on its partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada (JGIC), Air Canada is launching a new initiative to spotlight illegal wildlife trade (IWT) and its impact on global biodiversity. In collaboration with JGIC and involvement from Dr Jane Goodall herself, the awareness campaign will showcase animals endangered from IWT on the airline's in-flight entertainment welcome screens, social media and more during Earth Month, along with a special message from Dr Jane Goodall.

"Air Canada plays an important role in protecting biodiversity around the world and I've been proud to see Air Canada team up with The Jane Goodall Institute of Canada to bring more awareness to this issue. Their significant commitment to not only fighting the illegal wildlife trade through their policies and procedures, but using their platform to educate on this very important issue is commendable," said Bella Lam, Chief Executive Officer at the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada.

Air Canada launches new awareness campaign across its in-flight entertainment, social media and more to raise awareness of illegal wildlife trade

Preserving wildlife has been a component of Air Canada's environmental and sustainability efforts to "Do More"

Aeroplan to launch a points match week in support of the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada from April 22-28

Air Canada is first airline globally to showcase conservation documentaries onboard from Age of Union

"At Air Canada, our belief is while much of what we do to reduce our environmental footprint is about leaving less, we also need to do more to improve our planet's fragile ecosystems. As a global airline, we can use our platform to bring more awareness to the illegal wildlife trade and how that affects overall biodiversity. To further support this important work, all Aeroplan points donated to The Jane Goodall Institute of Canada for one week following Earth Day will be matched by Aeroplan. We are also honoured to celebrate Dr Goodall's 90th year by supporting her birthday tour across Canada to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards," said Valerie Durand, Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Sustainability at Air Canada.

Air Canada Wins 2024 APEX Best in Entertainment Award in North America

Unparalleled offering includes Live TV, Apple TV+, Audible, Disney+ and Hayu among thousands of hours of content.

Air Canada is honoured to have earned the 2024 APEX Best in Entertainment Award in North America for its in-flight entertainment (IFE) offering, presented last night at the APEX Awards in Lisbon. This is the first time the airline has won this APEX award, which is based on ratings the organization received from thousands of passengers who flew with Air Canada.

Air Canada’s complimentary and extensive in-flight entertainment programming features more than 1,400 hours of movies, 1,900 hours of television shows and more than 600 hours of music and podcasts, and a selection of live tv stations. (CNW Group/Air Canada)

"I am extremely proud of the recognition as 2024 APEX Best in Entertainment Award in North America, reflecting the unparalleled entertainment offering onboard our aircraft. With thousands of hours of movies, TV shows and audio podcasts available, our customers clearly are appreciative of the wide variety of options during their flights. I thank our customers for their loyalty. We're continuing to add content to our on-demand and live IFE offerings, so stay tuned as more exciting products will be rolled out soon!" said John Moody, Managing Director, Onboard Product at Air Canada.

Air Canada Issues Annual Report Highlighting its Achievements in 2023

Record operating revenue, advanced strategic initiatives

 Air Canada today issued its 2023 Annual Report highlighting the carrier's achievements for the year. In addition to its strong financial results, including record annual revenue, the airline made progress on key strategic initiatives. The report is available in the Investor Relations section of www.aircanada.com.

"Air Canada delivered very strong results in 2023. We met key financial objectives and advanced or exceeded most of our strategic and operational goals for the year, demonstrating our ability to perform consistently," said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada.

"We continued to renew our fleet with more fuel-efficient and comfortable aircraft, and we expanded our network and products to offer more choice and convenience to our customers. We also advanced our Environmental, Social and Governance programs through our sustainability, equity and accessibility activities and supported the communities we serve, including by providing thousands of employment opportunities.

"Air Canada has a solid foundation to build upon and a clear vision for the future as a leader in the global aviation industry, connecting Canada to the world, and as a trusted partner for all our stakeholders. I thank our customers for their loyalty, our 39,000 employees for their hard work and dedication to safe operations and our investors for their support throughout the year."

Among its key accomplishments, in 2023 Air Canada:

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 

Earlier 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."

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

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).

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!

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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."

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.