Air Canada's Inaugural Flight from Vancouver Arrives in Dubai

• Four times weekly seasonal flights complement Air Canada's daily year-round service between Toronto and Dubai
• Links two global hubs, offering customers connections from across BC, Alberta, the Western US through the Middle East, Indian subcontinent and East Africa

 Air Canada's inaugural flight departed from Vancouver on Oct. 28 and has arrived in Dubai, linking Western Canada with the Middle East.

"We are very pleased to launch Air Canada's newest international route connecting Vancouver and Dubai. Not only are both cities two of the top cosmopolitan destinations worldwide renowned for their extraordinary landmarks, rich culture, entertainment and leisure adventures, this route links two global hub airports to offer customers unparalleled travel options and conveniences beyond, whether travelling for leisure, visiting friends and family, or for business. At YVR, our flights have been built to conveniently connect to and from destinations in Alberta, BC and the western USA. In Dubai in cooperation with our codeshare and frequent flyer partner Emirates, a multitude of destinations across the Middle East, Indian subcontinent and East Africa are available," said Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President, Revenue and Network Planning, at Air Canada.

"Dubai is an exciting destination for non-stop service to YVR.  While exciting in its own right, this new Dubai service will also facilitate connections between Vancouver and the region, India and North Africa," said Tamara Vrooman, President and CEO, Vancouver Airport Authority. "I would like to thank Air Canada for their continued investment in YVR as their premier transpacific hub. We are thrilled to welcome this new route and connect Western Canada with the United Arab Emirates for the benefit of our community and the economy that supports it." 

"Dubai Airports is delighted to welcome the addition of Vancouver to our continuously growing list of international destinations, made possible by the introduction of Air Canada's new service. With convenient departures from Dubai International (DXB), Air Canada's new flights provide a seamless link between the Canadian West Coast and Dubai. This expansion complements Air Canada's existing daily service between DXB and Toronto, and reaffirms our commitment to bringing more guests to Dubai, as well as expand our growing global connectivity," said Rob Whitehouse, Vice President of Research at Dubai Airports.

Exceeding All Expectations

Aeroplan's annual Aeroplan Points Matching Week progresses from raising 2M points annually to raising 67.7M points this year for Air Canada Foundation Hospital Transportation Program

With the points donated, the Hospital Transportation program will be able to help roughly 700 families

All donated points benefit 15 pediatric hospitals across Canada, helping to connect sick children with the medical care they need away from home 

Thanks to the collaborative efforts of Canadian companies and dedicated Aeroplan members, more families will be supported with easier access to hospital care than ever before. This year, an astounding 67.7 million points were raised during Aeroplan's annual Aeroplan Points Matching Week representing the most successful points-matching campaign in the two-decade history of the Hospital Transportation Program. With the points donated during the week, the Hospital Transportation program will be able to help roughly 700 families, based on the average points used for flights in 2023 to date.

For 20 years, the Air Canada Foundation's Hospital Transportation Program has operated on the generous donations of Aeroplan members to provide relief for families across Canada whose children need specialized medical treatment. This year, Aeroplan partners took it to the next level to mark the program's 20th anniversary.

"The generosity exhibited through this year's campaign has blown us away. With donations coming from across Canada and more than 80 countries, our Aeroplan partners and members came together from around the globe to rally behind families to provide a sense of relief for those who face the stress of transporting a child for medical treatment," said Valérie Durand, spokesperson for the Air Canada Foundation. "We cannot thank our Aeroplan partners and members enough for their generosity and contributions which will help ensure the sustainability of this impactful program for years to come."

"Aeroplan members are the industry's most generous! Whether supporting their local communities or helping people in need around the world, time and again, they answer the call. This year, we were thrilled to have leading Aeroplan partners TD, CIBC, and the Avis Budget Group join us to amplify the generosity of our joint customers. With their support, this was the most impactful Points Matching Week ever — all devoted to helping kids and their families travel for required medical care," said Mark Nasr, Executive Vice President, Marketing and Digital at Air Canada, and President of Aeroplan.

All Aeroplan points go directly to 15 pediatric hospitals nationwide to support their young patients' need for care not offered in their community.

"Roughly 700 families will be supported with easier access to hospital care thanks to Aeroplan members and the kind generosity of the Avis Budget Group, TD, CIBC and Aeroplan. We can't believe the outpouring of support and are grateful to know that so many families across Canada will experience a bit of relief in their journey to get the specialized care their children need," said Adam Starkman, President and CEO of Canada's Children's Hospital Foundation.

Air Canada shows off newly upgraded Airbus A321 with new interior and cabin technology

Customers on board Air Canada flight AC692 operated by C-GITU on Saturday shared a pilot's eye view of the take-off due to new exterior cameras connected to the aircraft's seatback entertainment system. The new camera feature, a first for a narrow-body aircraft, is one of several innovations unveiled with the airline's first upgraded Airbus A321, which has been redesigned from nose to tail.

Air Canada is continuing to invest in customer comfort across its fleet of Airbus A321s and A320s which will feature a new cabin interior, new technologies and services such as Bluetooth audio, and free high-speed internet sponsored by Bell.

"We're proud to welcome customers on board to experience the comfort, convenience, and connectivity of our latest cabins. These upgraded fleet interiors will align the A320s and A321s to the highly popular A220 experience, further strengthening our industry-leading product offering," said Mark Nasr, Executive Vice President of loyalty and Products at Air Canada. "Additionally, new features such as our inflight entertainment system streaming exterior aircraft camera feeds, Bluetooth connectivity, and free, fast internet connectivity will be extremely popular with travellers. We will continue advancing our product leadership by trialling more new in-flight experiences with this A321 and expanding those learnings to additional aircraft in our fleet."  

Highlights of new cabin features:

Larger overhead bins – Latest Airbus Airspace XL design, the largest overhead bins in-class that will also be installed on the Airbus A321XLRs.

Upgraded seating – Presents a standardized product across the Air Canada narrowbody fleet in both Business Class and Economy. The new seats are designed to optimize passenger personal space, improve ergonomics, and provide more storage giving customers a more comfortable experience.

Bluetooth audio – Air Canada's newest IFE system will feature a Bluetooth-enabled seatback monitor. Customers will be able to connect their personal headsets while watching video on demand, live TV, or listening to podcasts or music. This initiative helps reduce usage of single-use headphones and supports Air Canada's sustainability objectives in reducing waste.

New exterior cameras – Customers can now watch their flight live thanks to a new first-in-class narrowbody tail and belly camera system providing high-resolution, real-time video of the aircraft exterior. 

Full colour LED mood lighting – New cabin lighting system will allow different ambiances to be set depending on time of day and phase of flight.

Fast and reliable Wi-Fi – Upgraded satellite-based connectivity.

Power options at all seats – All customers have access to power outlets, USB-A, and USB-C.

The new IFE system being installed on the Airbus A321 and A320 fleets will feature Air Canada's award-winning in-flight entertainment via screens at each seat, offering the most extensive content overall of any airline in the Americas. Customers will also enjoy live TV on their flights with this new cabin, featuring BNN, CTV, LCN, RDS, TSN1 and TSN2 available on all flights operated by this aircraft, including when flying over the US.

Air Canada's remaining 14 Airbus A321s and its eight A320s will be retrofitted starting this fall through to the end of 2025.  With these upgrades, customers will benefit from an elevated narrow-body cabin experience, in line with the cabins of the Airbus A220 and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft that comprise the majority of Air Canada's narrowbody fleet.  

The new cabin also reduces the overall weight of the A321 by approximately 240 kilograms, which will reduce fuel consumption for the entire fleet once the work is completed by more than 2.4 million litres and reduce GHG emissions by 6,256 tCO2 equivalent per year, or the equivalent of the electricity used annually by 4,185 Canadian homes.

Air Canada and Dreams Take Flight partner to make magical memories for Vancouver children through once-in-a-lifetime flight

28th Dreams flight from Vancouver
First Dreams flights from Vancouver since 2019
Fifth Dreams flight this year from across Canada

Air Canada and Dreams Take Flight have teamed up for another memorable journey. This year, Air Canada and Dreams Take Flight will transport over 119 children on a trip-of-a-lifetime from Vancouver to a California theme park thanks to the support of numerous Air Canada employee volunteers and the Air Canada Foundation. Since 1989, Dreams Take Flight has given more than 30,000 Canadian children with various special needs a flight of a lifetime.

The children were accompanied by a crew of current and retired Air Canada employee volunteers who were dedicated to providing a magical experience for those onboard. The crew members, including pilots, flight attendants, maintenance engineers, and numerous other employees on the ground and behind the scenes, generously donated their time to offer children facing mental, physical, or social adversity the chance to take a break from their everyday lives and create memories while uncovering new horizons.

"After a 3-year hiatus, YVR is very excited to embark on our 28th Dreams flight, making magical memories for 119 children from organizations like BC Children's Hospital, Children's Organ Transplant Society and various school groups from the lower mainland. Special needs doesn't have to be of a physical nature, these past few years have had a major mental effect on the world and we are excited to make memories for special kids for just one magical day," said Melissa Hance, Dreams Take Flight YVR President. "Thanks to the support of the Air Canada Foundation, volunteers, employees, YVR and all our national and local sponsors, a big Warm West Coast Thank you!"

"It brings me such joy to see these deserving children finally get their special day. The dedication of everyone involved in making this trip happen has ensured that the children go home with memories that they will cherish forever," said Valerie Durand, spokesperson for the Air Canada Foundation.  "The Air Canada Foundation is delighted to have contributed to Dreams Take Flight Vancouver's journey."

Every year, 1,700 children take the trip of a lifetime to a theme park in Florida or California. Three more flights from across Canada are planned for this year, from Calgary, Montreal and Ottawa. Earlier this year, Dreams flights from Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, and Halifax took place.

Air Canada to offer Audible Original audiobooks and podcasts on planes

The collaboration with a leading provider of audiobooks is Air Canada's latest boost to in-flight services.  

New Audible content boosts Air Canada's unparalleled IFE with selections spanning Sports, True Crime, Family, Comedy and more

Air Canada became the first airline to offer Canadian Audible Original Audiobooks and Podcasts and more in its in-flight entertainment (IFE) system, this week. 

Through premium and dynamic audio storytelling, Audible provides Air Canada's customers immersive, relaxing entertainment during their travel journey onboard. The collaboration marks Air Canada's latest investment in providing unparalleled IFE content for its global customers.

"We're thrilled to announce Audible as the latest global brand to work with Air Canada as we continue to expand the in-flight entertainment choices we offer our customers. Entertainment is an important part of the in-flight experience, and with a growing interest in audio stories, the addition of inspiring and engaging articles and interviews in audio format complements the diverse range of content available in our unparalleled in-flight programming," said John Moody, Managing Director, Product Design at Air Canada.

"Audible is committed to creating exceptional listening experiences for its customers around the world – including as they travel for pleasure or business," said Georgia Knox, Canada Country Manager at Audible. "Through our collaboration with Air Canada, we're able to inspire, entertain and inform more listeners than ever before on their journeys. Travellers will have access to an extensive list of content including a selection of Canadian Audible Originals that we develop with up-and-coming talent and some of the country's biggest names." 

The collaboration adds a starting point of 160 hours of Audible Original Audiobook and Podcast content to the airline's existing 2,500+ hours of IFE, which includes 420+ movies, 1,000+TV episodes, 130+ albums, podcasts and more. This exciting range of new Audible programming now available on-board Air Canada's IFE-equipped aircraft has something for everyone, spanning Sports, True Crime, Family, Wellness, Action & Adventure, Comedy, and more. The catalogue features a wide range of Canadian content in both English and French, with highlights including, Sidney Crosby: The Rookie Year; Seven Truths; Women Talking; Roudoudous en laponie; Main-Basse sur le monde; and more, with new titles to come. Audible is also offering Air Canada customers two free months of membership, so they can enjoy their new favourites at home or on their next trip.

Air Canada's partnership with Audible follows the airline's recent expansions to its in-flight entertainment options with critically acclaimed original programs and family fun content. In May, Air Canada launched free text-base messaging for all Aeroplan members worldwide on all Wi-Fi equipped aircraft across Air Canada's fleet, including Air Canada Rouge and Air Canada Express. Last November, Air Canada became the only Canadian carrier to offer live Canadian TV featuring English and French channels, giving customers the ability to cheer on their favourite sports teams by watching global sporting events in real time, as well as live news onboard equipped flights.

Air Canada's product excellence was recognized with several prestigious awards this year. This included being named the World's Most Family Friendly Airline by Skytrax, and Best Airline for Onboard Entertainment by Global Traveler for the fifth consecutive year. The Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) also awarded Air Canada the Passenger Choice Award for Best Entertainment in North America, as well as its coveted Five Star Global Airline Award based on customer feedback for the fifth time in six years.

Air Canada orders 18 Boeing 787 jets....

The firm order of 18 aircraft and 12 options

are scheduled to arrive from late 2025

Aircraft to feature new, state-of-the-art interior cabin design

Air Canada converts two Boeing 777 freighter orders to passenger aircraft

Air Canada has today said it has placed a firm order with Boeing for 18 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner aircraft with deliveries set to start in late 2025. The last of this 18 aircraft order is scheduled to be in the Air Canada fleet by March 2027.  The airline says these new planes will be used to replace older, less efficient wide-body aircraft currently in the Air Canada fleet. The agreement also includes options for another 12 Boeing 787-10 aircraft, which may be needed to provide flexibility for growth to meet future customer demand.

"Air Canada has made investing in the passenger experience a core priority. Our experience shows customers greatly enjoy flying on the Dreamliner, so we are pleased to offer them a larger version of this popular aircraft, which will premiere a new, state-of-the-art interior cabin design. As importantly, the 787 is highly fuel efficient and will generate operational savings as well as support our sustainability goals of reducing emissions," said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada.

Air Canada currently operates 30 787-9 and eight 787-8 versions of the Dreamliner, with two more 787-9 aircraft scheduled for delivery from a previous order. The 787-10 is the largest model of the Dreamliner family and can carry more than 330 customers depending on the seat configuration, and has 175 cubic meters (6,187 cubic feet) of cargo volume. The Dreamliner provides exceptional passenger comfort with enhanced cabin pressurization and humidity controls, and the largest dimmable windows of any commercial aircraft.  According to Boeing, the 787-10 has up to 25 per cent lower fuel emissions per seat than the aircraft it replaces.

Fleet Renewal

The acquisition of the new aircraft is part of an ongoing fleet renewal program at Air Canada, with the airline continuing to take delivery of new Airbus A220 aircraft, as well as plans to acquire 28 extra-long range (XLR) versions of the Airbus A321neo aircraft, also beginning in 2025.  In addition, as previously announced, Air Canada has finalized a purchase agreement for 30 ES-30 electric-hybrid aircraft under development by Heart Aerospace, which are expected to enter service in 2028.

The Boeing 787-10 aircraft order announced with Boeing today substitutes for a previously announced agreement to purchase two Boeing 777 freighter aircraft and, as a result, Air Canada will no longer take delivery of the two freighters. In total, Air Canada currently operates approximately 240 aircraft in its mainline and Air Canada Rouge fleet.

Air Canada is Canada's largest airline, the country's flag carrier and a founding member of Star Alliance, the world's most comprehensive air transportation network. Air Canada provides scheduled service directly to more than 180 airports in Canada, the United States and Internationally on six continents. It holds a Four-Star ranking from Skytrax. Air Canada's Aeroplan program is Canada's premier travel loyalty program, where members can earn or redeem points on the world's largest airline partner network of 45 airlines, plus through an extensive range of merchandise, hotel and car rental rewards. Its freight division, Air Canada Cargo, provides air freight lift and connectivity to hundreds of destinations across six continents using Air Canada's passenger and freighter aircraft.  Air Canada aims to achieve an ambitious net zero emissions goal from all global operations by 2050. Air Canada shares are publicly traded on the TSX in Canada and the OTCQX in the US.

Air Canada once again named a Five Star Global Airline at the APEX 2024 Awards

Air Canada has once again been awarded Five Star Global Airline at the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) 2024 Awards ceremony which was held last night in Long Beach, California. It is the fifth time in six years the airline has been awarded an APEX Five Star rating which is based on customer feedback.

"On behalf of the more than 36,000 employees at Air Canada, we thank our customers and APEX for recognizing us with a Five Star Global Airline award. We have made significant investments in our digital, lounge and in-flight products and services, and we are delighted to welcome our customers onboard with an elevated level of comfort and convenience as they connect with families and friends, explore new cultures or continue to build businesses across Canada and our global network," said Mark Nasr, Air Canada's Executive Vice President, Marketing & Digital and President of Aeroplan.

Air Canada and Dreams Take Flight Edmonton celebrate 30 years of helping children make magical memories

First Dreams Take Flight trip departing Edmonton since 2019
Fourth flight of 2023 taking off from across Canada

Earlier this week, in the morning of Tuesday 19th, 104 children from  Alberta and the Northwest Territories, many of whom have never stepped foot on an aeroplane, took off on the trip of lifetime. Departing from Edmonton International Airport the children from Dreams Take Flight jetted off for a theme park in California, marking the 30th anniversary of the Edmonton chapter of Dreams Take Flight. Today's flight is the first Edmonton Dreams flight since 2019, and the fourth of eight Dreams Take Flight trips planned across Canada for 2023. Over the past 30 years, Dreams Take Flight and Air Canada, as the exclusive carrier, have given more than 42,000 Canadian children a Dreams flight.

With the support of devoted Air Canada employee volunteers, the Air Canada Foundation and the Dreams Take Flight organization, these trips take children from across the country on a trip-of-a-lifetime and help them create magical memories. That was the case for Naomi, who took part on the 2011 Dreams flight from Edmonton and would have celebrated her 19th birthday last week.

"Through she was still recovering from the effects of fighting cancer, she threw off all hindrances and partied from before the sun came up until well after the sun set. The stories she came back to us with filled our hearts and the photo book we received in the mail a few months later is still something we cherish to this day," Naomi's mom recalls fondly.

Air Canada Unveils Canada's Best New Restaurants 2023 Longlist..........

Showcasing the Best of New Canadian Cuisine the list ist highlights 30 restaurants spanning 15 cities from coast to coast, in the running for the Top 10 announcement on November 1, 2023 

The 30 nominees for Canada's Best New Restaurants 2023 were unveiled this week by Air Canada, welcoming a new group of restaurants to the longest-running Canadian restaurant awards. Since 2002, Air Canada has championed the country's distinct culinary scene through its signature program, celebrating new restaurants, chefs, and emerging talent. The 22nd year of Canada's Best New Restaurants kicks off with the highly anticipated longlist, out today on CanadasBestNewRestaurants.com.

With one-in-ten adults taking vacation packages focused on culinary experiences, Air Canada and the Canada's Best New Restaurants program offer a list of 30 great Canadian restaurant options to explore. Spanning 15 cities across seven provinces, the longlist features restaurants that are worthy of note by both domestic and international travellers. Inclusion in this list elevates exposure for the chosen restaurants on both the domestic and international stage.

"Canada's Best New Restaurants is a celebratory guide for discovering the best of dining as you explore Canada, which is incredibility meaningful for us at Air Canada. The regionally diverse list spans 15 cities across seven provinces, proving there's plenty of Canada to explore when planning your next reservation," said Andy Shibata, Vice President, Brand, Air Canada. "Whether it's a restaurant overlooking a marina on B.C.'s Sunshine Coast, dining on the shores of Lake Erie, or upscale casual cuisine in St. John's Harbour, there are 30 new reasons to explore Canada."

Canada's Best New Restaurants is the only cross-country restaurant ranking to use a single, anonymous reviewer who sets out to visit the year's best new restaurants. Based on the recommendations of a coast-to-coast panel of food experts, Air Canada sends one undercover writer on a month-long culinary marathon to sample the offerings of the top 30 most notable openings across the country, all of which are now contenders for the coveted Top 10 list.

Canada's Best New Restaurants 2023 highlights the top restaurants that have opened across the country between late spring 2022 and May 31, 2023, and deliver exceptional experiences through the quality of their food, level of service and commitment to culinary creativity.

The 2023 nominees for Canada's Best New Restaurants are:

9 Tail Fox, Montreal; Acre Through the Seasons, Richmond; Anemone, Montreal;  Bar Accanto, Winnipeg; Bar Chouette, Calgary; Bonheur d'Occasion, Montreal; Brassica, Gibsons; Cabaret l'Enfer, Montreal; Casa Paco, Toronto; Darlings, Bloomfield; Dotty's, Toronto; Espace Old Mill, Stanbridge East; Fawn, Halifax; Folke, Vancouver; Fortuna's Row, Calgary; Kappo Sato, Toronto; Lao Lao Bar, Toronto; Le Molière, Montreal; Les Mômes, Montreal; Marilena Café, Victoria; Melba, Quebec City; Milpa, Calgary; Petit Socco, Winnipeg; Portage, St. John's; Rizzo's House of Parm, Fort Erie; Salt + Ash, Halifax; Simpl Things, Toronto; Suyo Modern Peruvian, Vancouver; Ugly Duckling, Victoria; Wild Blue, Whistler.

This year's Top 10 ranking will be unveiled at a celebration in Toronto on November 1, 2023. The winners will also be showcased on CanadasBestNewRestaurants.com and in the November issue of Air Canada enRoute magazine.

The 2023 edition of Canada's Best New Restaurants is generously supported by Diageo Canada, our returning gold level sponsor. A special thank-you to Diageo Canada for their ongoing commitment to enriching Canada's culinary landscape.

Air Canada announces prepayment of aircraft related debt of around $589 Million

 Air Canada today announced it has prepaid loans of approximately $462 million from Export Development Corporation (EDC) previously used by the company to help fund its acquisition of 14 Airbus A220-300 aircraft. The prepayment, which is also subject to accrued interest and break costs, was made on August 30, 2023. 

The airline additionally prepaid financings of approximately $127 million supported by the Export-Import Bank of the United States (ExIm) previously used by the company to help fund its acquisition of four Boeing 787-8 aircraft. The prepayment, which is also subject to accrued interest, was made on September 6, 2023.

"One of Air Canada's top priorities following the pandemic is to deleverage and since late last year we have now pre-paid approximately $1.87 billion in debt. This strengthens our balance sheet and provides us more flexibility to make strategic investments, including to improve the customer experience, and to continue upgrading our fleet such as through our previously announced acquisition of Canadian-made Airbus A220 aircraft. With our very solid liquidity position and cash flow we will continue to look for more opportunities to reduce debt further. We were pleased to partner with EDC in supporting the Canadian aerospace industry and we thank Exlm for facilitating our acquisition of Boeing aircraft," said John Di Bert, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Air Canada.

The prepayment for the financed aircraft was achieved via:

a full prepayment of the remaining loans under Air Canada's 2020 credit facility with EDC for the acquisition of Airbus A220-300 aircraft, and

a partial prepayment of Air Canada's financing arrangements supported by ExIm for the acquisition of four Boeing 787-8 aircraft.

As a result of the prepayments, these aircraft will be added to Air Canada's unencumbered asset pool, bringing the total to approximately $6.3 billion, excluding Aeroplan.

The amount of debt prepayments now totals approximately $1.87 billion since and including the repurchase of some of its outstanding 4.000% convertible senior notes due 2025 completed last year, leading to an aggregate reduction in interest expense of approximately $158 million (approximately $114 million in cash) on an annualized basis.

Air Canada picks Intelsat for expanded fleet connectivity

Long-term relationship expanded to include 100 additional aircraft equipped for Wi-Fi

Air Canada to use Intelsat’s new Electronically Steered Array (ESA) antenna.

Air Canada and Intelsat, operator of one of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial networks and leading provider of in-flight connectivity (IFC), have reached an agreement for Intelsat to provide connectivity systems for nearly 100 additional aircraft across the airline’s fleet, including Intelsat’s new multi-orbit electronically steered array (ESA) antenna for aircraft in the airline’s regional jet fleet.

“The efforts and the commitment of Intelsat’s team and their service partners made the difference for us. We’re confident Intelsat provides proven technology, an extensible platform and network, and the right vision for the future of in-flight connectivity”

“The efforts and the commitment of Intelsat’s team and their service partners made the difference for us. We’re confident Intelsat provides proven technology, an extensible platform and network, and the right vision for the future of in-flight connectivity,” said Mark Nasr, Air Canada’s Executive Vice President, Marketing and Digital, and President of Aeroplan. “Through our Bell partnership, equipment installation schedule, and strong conviction around the importance of in-flight connectivity, we seek to offer our customers the best and most consistently available offering in the industry.”

Intelsat currently operates in-flight internet on 240 aircraft spanning Air Canada, Rouge and Air Canada Express. The new program includes IFC installations on three types of Air Canada aircraft:

Boeing 737 MAX aircraft – the fleet of 40 aircraft will be equipped starting this year with Intelsat’s 2Ku IFC system.

Embraer 175 and Mitsubishi CRJ-900 aircraft (currently installed with Intelsat’s air-to-ground system) – The 55 aircraft are currently flown by Air Canada’s Jazz regional partner and will be upgraded with Intelsat’s new ESA antenna starting in 2024.

Air Canada’s flag carrier and its regional partner Jazz together operate over 300 aircraft and they offer more Wi-Fi equipped flights than any other airline in Canada. The relationship with Intelsat will serve as a key enabler as Air Canada seeks to offer its customers the fastest and most consistently available Internet connectivity in the industry, throughout its global network.

Air Canada expands European services....

Air Canada has announced a new, year-round route between Montreal and Madrid beginning next May, as part of its expanded international summer 2024 flying schedule. The airline plans to operate 100 per cent of its peak summer 2019 trans-Atlantic capacity next year, taking full advantage of the robust recovery in its largest international market.

"Air Canada saw a tremendous rebound in international flying this past summer, particularly on the trans-Atlantic, and we expect Europe will remain popular next year. In anticipation of this, we are expanding our flying schedule to offer customers more choice and flexibility as they begin to plan their 2024 holidays," said Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President of Revenue and Network Planning at Air Canada. "The centrepiece of today's announcement is our new Montreal-Madrid flight. This will be the only year-round service between Montreal and the Spanish capital, complementing our long-standing Toronto-Madrid flights, and offering compelling options for leisure customers and also returning business travellers."

Air Canada's Montreal-Madrid service will be operated with a 255-seat Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft with three cabins of service, including Signature Class with lie-flat seats, Premium Economy and Economy Class. All customers have the opportunity to collect and redeem points with Aeroplan, Canada's leading loyalty program, and eligible customers have access to priority check-in, Maple Leaf Lounge access, priority boarding and other benefits where available.

Montreal - Madrid Schedule

Flight	From	Departure	To	Arrival	Frequency
AC 834	Montreal	20:30	Madrid	09:40 (+1)	Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun
AC 835	Madrid	13:15	Montreal	15:20	Mon, Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun

Air Canada publishes 2022 citizens of the world corporate sustainability report

Air Canada has this week released the 2022 edition of Citizens of the World, detailing the airline's approach, commitments and progress respecting its environmental, social and governance activities and performance throughout 2022. The report also outlines Air Canada's ambitions for the future.

"Last year was a pivotal one for our business. We celebrated our 85th anniversary and recovered from the pandemic's effects on our industry, all while advancing our ESG priorities. As Canada's flag carrier, we connect Canada to the world, and we are acutely aware of the responsibility we have toward the communities we fly to and our planet. We have developed corporate priorities to improve our operations while caring for our customers, our employees and our communities, as well as preserving the planet we help people explore," said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer at Air Canada.

"We believe in the importance of taking care of one another. We lift each other up by creating a safe, healthy and inclusive environment, where our colleagues can grow and thrive, and our customers always feel welcome. Our next chapters may be challenging, but we are as determined as ever to deliver the care and class that Air Canada is known for, in a sustainable way."

Citizens of the World, Air Canada's 2022 Corporate Sustainability Report, is available at aircanada.com/citizensoftheworld. It describes how the airline integrates environmental, social and governance factors into its daily operations through three sustainability pillars: Business, People and Planet. To ensure transparency, integrity and accountability, an independent third party was retained for a limited assurance engagement on select performance indicators.

Air Canada and Hopper Partner to Offer Travellers More Freedom and Flexibility

• Hopper Cancel for Any Reason feature makes it easier for travellers to change their travel plans, offering peace of mind
• Travellers now have flexibility to cancel their eligible flight up to 24 hours before scheduled departure and receive an immediate refund

Air Canada has announced a partnership with Hopper, giving the airline’s customers more freedom and flexibility to change their travel plans when booking on aircanada.com (Canadian edition). For a fee, travellers can now add Cancel for Any Reason to eligible non-refundable fare types booked on the Air Canada website, offering additional peace of mind.

Cancel for Any Reason, powered by Hopper, allows customers to easily cancel their flight up to 24 hours before scheduled departure. Depending on the level of coverage purchased, upon cancellation, a refund of 80 or 100 per cent of the original eligible booking is issued immediately to the user's preferred payment method – with no additional wait time or extra steps needed. Cancel for Any Reason is available for Standard, Flex, Premium Economy Lowest and Business Class Lowest fares.

“A cornerstone of Air Canada’s customer promise is to offer the best selection of flights at appealing fare levels. We do this by providing a menu of branded fares, each with its own attributes so customers can design their travel to suit their needs. But we also know that travel plans can change, so we are pleased to partner with an innovative Canadian travel technology partner such as Hopper to offer Cancel for Any Reason, giving customers added flexibility and peace of mind when booking,” said Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President, Revenue and Network Planning for Air Canada.

Air Canada named the favourite airline in North America at the 2023 Trazee Awards

Air Canada has been recognized for the fifth consecutive year by Trazee Awards as North America's favourite airline for 2023.

"Travel connects people, families, cultures and communities, and Air Canada is thrilled to be recognized again by this important and discerning demographic as their favourite airline in North America. We're continuing to introduce more product and service upgrades in lounges, food, beverages, onboard entertainment and digital options to offer additional comfort and convenience across Air Canada's travel journey. We look forward to welcoming customers onboard across our global network," said Mark Nasr, Executive Vice President, Marketing and Digital, and President of Aeroplan at Air Canada.

This Trazee Award builds on Air Canada's recent recognition as the World's Most Family Friendly Airline at the Skytrax World Airline Awards. Other honours received by the airline this year include:

Best Airline in Canada from Skytrax World Airline Awards

Best Airline Staff in Canada from Skytrax World Airline Awards

Best Low-Cost Airline in Canada (Air Canada Rouge) from Skytrax World Airline Awards

Best Airline for Onboard Entertainment for the fifth consecutive year from Global Traveler

Passenger Choice Award for Best Entertainment in North America from the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX)

Airline Program of the Year, Best Promotion and Best Redemption Ability for Air Canada's Aeroplan loyalty program  from the Freddie Awards

One of 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

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Air Canada's profits soar - while its flight attendants are forced to work for nothing......

The union representing 9,500 flight attendants at Air Canada says the company’s quarterly profit of $838 million shows it is more than capable of giving its flight attendants a raise to their poverty starting wages. It also shows the company is more than capable of ending its reliance on – and abuse of – unpaid work by flight attendants.

“The great news is our customers are back, and the planes are full. The bad news is the workers who keep this airline flying are getting crushed by inflation, while the airline still depends on hours of our free labour every month to keep the airline operating,” said Wesley Lesosky, President of the Air Canada Component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).

“Our members are highly-trained safety professionals, but our starting wages are so low that our members working fulltime still qualify for and depend on federal income supplements like the Canada Workers Benefit,” said Lesosky, noting the starting salary for a flight attendant at Air Canada Rouge is $26,487 in the first year.

Meanwhile, the company is not paying flight attendants for hours of critical work they perform every day, and the hours add up. A survey conducted by CUPE last winter found that the average flight attendant in Canada works unpaid for 35 hours every month because airlines like Air Canada only pay flight attendants while the plane is in motion.

“This means duties critical to safety and passenger well-being like assisting passengers during boarding and deplaning as well as pre-flight safety checks are not paid,” said Lesosky. “These huge profit margins reported are built on the backs of the airline not paying our members a fair wage – simple as that.”

Leading Canadian airline releases its latest performance figures.

The leading Canadian airline, Air Canada has released its latest figures, showing that operating revenues for the second quarter of 2023 reached $5.427 billion, an increased 36% on the second quarter of 2022 

The carrier reports an operating income of $802 million, with an operating margin of 14.8%, compared to an operating loss of $253 million in the second quarter of 2022. Second quarter net cash flows from operating activities of $1.490 billion, and free cash flow* of $965 million

Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada explains:  "Air Canada's second-quarter results were driven by strong demand and show the effectiveness of our plan. As a result of the hard work of our people, the appeal of our growing global network, as well as our leading brand and product offering, operating revenues in the quarter reached $5.4 billion, an increase of 36 per cent from a year ago. Operating income was $802 million, a year-over-year improvement of over $1 billion, and our adjusted EBITDA reached $1.2 billion with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 22.5 per cent," 

"I thank the entire team for its continued dedication to serving our customers, including collaborating with our partners, who also share the responsibility of ensuring a smooth customer journey. We safely carried over 11 million customers across our global network in the quarter, a year-over-year increase of about 23 per cent. However, despite having more trained resources than last summer and improved tools, our operations in June and July were not at expected levels. We are increasing our efforts to protect the customer journey from disruption, regardless of the cause. This includes using any influence we have, in such instances as pilot attrition at our principal regional partner or global supply chain issues, or working to mitigate the effects of situations beyond our control, such as disruptive storm activity in our key hubs and markets. We are confident that our efforts will generate positive outcomes.

"We are particularly pleased with our international performance, propelling nearly 70 per cent of the year-over-year increase in passenger revenues. Air Canada Vacations continued to see high demand for leisure travel packages, and Aeroplan added compelling new partners and grew its membership. Our cargo business, like others in the industry, experienced lower demand and yields than expected. Based on current passenger booking patterns, we see prevailing strength in travel demand over the second half of 2023, giving us confidence to increase the lower end of our adjusted EBITDA guidance range. We continue to focus intently on cost discipline and liquidity management. We ended the quarter with more than $9.6 billion in cash, cash equivalents and investments. This will enable us to further invest in our business, deleverage our balance sheet and ensure our company maintains the resiliency and adaptability needed for long-term success and to navigate through evolving market conditions," said Mr. Rousseau.

Second Quarter 2023 Financial Results

• Second quarter operating revenues of $5.427 billion increased $1.446 billion from the same quarter in 2022, driven by a 42 per cent year-over-year increase in passenger revenues. Operated capacity increased 21 per cent from the second quarter of 2022, one percentage point lower than the projection provided in Air Canada's May 12, 2023, news release.
• Operating expenses of $4.625 billion increased $391 million or 9 per cent from the second quarter of 2022, driven by increases in nearly all line items reflecting higher operated capacity and traffic year –over year, partially offset by a 31.4 per cent decrease in jet fuel prices.
• Operating income of $802 million, with an operating margin of 14.8 per cent, an improvement of over $1 billion from an operating loss of $253 million in the second quarter of 2022.
• Adjusted EBITDA of $1.220 billion, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 22.5 per cent, an increase of $1.066 billion and of 18.6 percentage points, respectively, from the second quarter of 2022. 
• Net income of $838 million improved $1.224 billion from the second quarter of 2022. Diluted earnings per share of $2.34 compared to a diluted loss per share of $1.60 in the second quarter of 2022.
• Adjusted net income* of $664 million improved $1.119 billion from the second quarter of 2022. Adjusted earnings per diluted share* of $1.85 compared to an adjusted loss per diluted share of $1.12 in the second quarter of 2022, an improvement of $2.97 per diluted share.
• Adjusted CASM* (adjusted cost per available seat mile) of 13.3 cents increased 1.6 per cent from the second quarter of 2022. The unit cost was impacted by higher passenger service costs due to higher traffic and higher selling costs, which are largely driven by revenues, and by a 24 per cent increase in wages, salaries and benefits resulting from a 22 per cent year-over-year increase in the number of average full-time-equivalent (FTE) employees. Second quarter 2023 CASM of 18.8 cents decreased 9.7 per cent from the second quarter of 2022 mainly due to lower fuel prices and higher capacity year over year.
• Net cash flows from operating activities of $1.490 billion increased $426 million from the second quarter of 2022. 
• Free cash flow of $965 million increased $537 million from the second quarter of 2022.
• Net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA ratio* was 1.7 at June 30, 2023, an improvement from 3.2 at March 30, 2023, and 5.1 at December 31, 2022, due to growth in adjusted EBITDA and the reduction in net debt.

Air Canada and Apple TV+ partnership enhances inflight entertainment.

First airline in Canada, second airline globally to offer Apple TV+ original programming onboard

Air Canada's in-flight entertainment offers 2,500+ hours of movies, TV shows, podcasts, music as well as live TV news and sports—nearly double last year

Air Canada is further enhancing its award-winning in-flight entertainment with the addition of exclusive Apple TV+ original programming starting today. 

The partnership marks Air Canada's latest investment in the customer experience, adding critically acclaimed original programs including Ted Lasso, Bad Sisters, Severance, Foundation and many more for its global customers.

"At Air Canada, we know that inflight entertainment is an important part of our customers' travel journey, particularly on long-haul flights. We continually evaluate opportunities to expand our entertainment and introduce exclusive, current content that our customers will love. We look forward to welcoming customers onboard to catch up on their favourite Apple TV+ shows or discover new hits during their flight," said John Moody, Managing Director of Product Design at Air Canada. "This new partnership with Apple puts us on track to increase our onboard entertainment content by more than 95 per cent since last year. We look forward to introducing even more entertainment before the end of 2023."

Earlier this year, Air Canada was recognized by Global Traveler as Best Airline for Onboard Entertainment for the fifth consecutive year, and by the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) with the Passenger Choice Award for Best Entertainment in North America. With 420+ movies, 1,000+ TV episodes, 130+ music albums, podcasts and more, customers can enjoy the best programming from boarding to landing. All content onboard Air Canada's inflight entertainment equipped aircraft is complimentary for all customers.

Air Canada's partnership with Apple follows the airline's recent collaboration with Mattel which brings more family fun with some of the most popular kids' shorts.