Air Canada is Canada’s largest full-service airline and the largest provider of scheduled passenger services in the Canadian market, the Canada-U.S. transborder market and in the international market to and from Canada. In 2007, Air Canada together with its regional affiliate Jazz, operated an average of 1,370 scheduled flights per day and carried over 33 million passengers, providing direct passenger service to over 170 destinations on 5 continents. Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance™, providing the world's most comprehensive air transportation network.
Air Canada's predecessor, Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) inaugurated its first flight on September 1, 1937. The 50-minute flight aboard a Lockheed L-10A carried two passengers and mail between Vancouver and Seattle. By 1964, TCA had grown to become Canada's national airline; it changed its name to Air Canada. The airline became fully privatized in 1989. In 2000, Air Canada acquired Canadian Airlines International. Today, Air Canada is the 14th largest commercial airline in the world, with approximately 23,900 full-time equivalent employees. Air Canada shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol “AC-B.TO”.
A la carte pricing
Air Canada’s redesigned website, aircanada.com, offers innovative à la carte pricing that allows customers on flights within Canada and to or from the United States to customize their travel experience by choosing the options they wish to pay for. A la carte pricing couples Air Canada’s branded fares with optional features, including lounge access, travel assistance, in-flight meal vouchers, checked baggage and Aeroplan miles. Customers build individualized tickets online, paying for perks where desired, and saving on unwanted services.
World-wide aircanada.com websites are available in 15 countries, and four languages, offering Air Canada products plus access to localized services in local currencies. In addition, Air Canada continues to expand its growing array of mobile services at http://mobile.aircanada.com, including mobile check in and mobile boarding passes.
Flight passes
Air Canada is the only airline that offers customers Flight Passes providing the convenience to self-manage travel online, either in the form of pre-purchased banks of one-way flight credits or fixed monthly subscription rates that provide for unlimited flights within chosen geographical zones.
New Fleet and On-Board Features
In 2007, Air Canada began introducing ultra-modern, fuel-efficient Boeing 777 jets on international routes, including the only non-stop service between Vancouver and Sydney, Australia. The carrier will have 18 by early 2009. In 2008, Air Canada will have concluded most of its major fleet-wide refurbishment, consisting of all new seats, seat-back personal entertainment systems with 80 hours of video and 50 hours of audio on demand, as well as standard 110V electrical outlets at arm’s reach for all customers. Concurrently, Air Canada is progressively introducing the first lie-flat beds of any North American carrier in business class across its international fleet. In 2008, Air Canada received its 60th and final new Embraer aircraft for its North American fleet, offering a consistent onboard product fleetwide.
Awards
Air Canada was ranked ‘Best Airline in North America’ in the world’s largest survey of air travelers conducted by the independent UK-based research firm Skytrax between August 2006 and June 2007. Air Transport World magazine awarded Air Canada the prestigious Airline Industry Achievement Award in 2007 for Market Leadership. Air Canada was voted ‘Best Airline in North America’ and ‘Best Airline in Canada’ by readers of the U.S. magazine, Global Traveler, and was voted ‘Best Business Class to Canada’ by readers of the U.S magazine, Business Traveler. EnRoute magazine received the award for Best Travel Magazine at the 2007 North American Travel Journalists’ Association Awards.
Main Hub
The Toronto Pearson International Airport is the main hub of Air Canada or the Air Canada Center. It also has a couple of secondary hubs namely the Calgary International Airport and the Montreal Trudeau International Airport.
Fleet
Air Canada manages an extensive fleet comprising 209 aircrafts. The aircrafts that form part of its fleet include:
45 Embraer 190
33 Airbus A 320-200
31 Airbus A 319
20 Boeing 767 300
Apart from these there are other aircrafts too that form part of its ever expanding fleet. It offers its passengers the scope to travel in luxury and comfort. There are different categories of seats available on the Air Canada aircrafts. These include:
Economy Class International
Executive First Class International
Economy Class North America
Executive Class North America
Main Destinations
Air Canada Airlines conducts flights to a host of destinations across the length and breadth of the globe along with local destinations. These include:
South Korea
Bahamas
People's Republic of China
Dominican Republic
Antigua & Barbados
Trinidad & Tobago
Germany
Costa Rica
United Kingdom
Switzerland
France
Facilities and Services
Travelers on board the Canada Air are provided with numerous services and facilities. These include:
Movies
In flight magazine
Special meals
On board cafe
Bookings and Reservations
The Canada Air offers scope for online bookings and reservations, thus making it easier for passengers to plan their flights with them.
