Air Canada has unveiled its new leisure airline, Air Canada rouge, a move the airline says marks a milestone in the transformation of Canada's flag carrier to compete in the growing leisure travel sector. Special introductory fares are on sale.
"With the introduction today of Air Canada rouge, Air Canada enters today's growing leisure travel market on a truly competitive basis," said Ben Smith, Air Canada's executive vice president and chief commercial officer.
"With leisure time at a premium, Air Canada rouge will combine affordable fares, great service and choice leisure destinations with those benefits offered by Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations that are valued most by vacation travelers. We look forward to giving them a warm welcome onboard Air Canada rouge, Canada's affordably stylish leisure airline," said Michael Friisdahl, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada's Leisure Group.
Special introductory Air Canada rouge fares are now on sale to: Venice, Edinburgh, Athens, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Costa Rica. The new carrier will also introduce new routes not currently operated by Air Canada to Venice, Italy and Edinburgh, Scotland.
In addition, Air Canada seasonal services from Toronto and Montreal to Athens, Greece will be flown by the leisure carrier. Similarly, existing Air Canada flights operated in cooperation with Air Canada Vacations to Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Costa Rica will be operated by Air Canada rouge effective July 2013.
Examples of introductory fares based on Toronto departures:
• Venice, Edinburgh and Toronto/Montreal-Athens: starting at $949 round-trip including all taxes, fees, charges and surcharges.
• Dominican Republic (Punta Cana, Puerto Plata and Samana) and Kingston, Jamaica: starting at $269 each way including all taxes, fees, charges and surcharges.
• Costa Rica (San Jose and Liberia): starting at $389 each way including all taxes, fees, charges and surcharges.
• Cuba (Varadero, Cayo Coco, Holguin and Santa Clara): starting at $538 round-trip including all taxes, fees, charges and surcharges; available exclusively at aircanadavacations.com.
Air Canada Vacations is also offering introductory specials for bookings made by December 25, 2012 on air-inclusive vacation packages to select Caribbean and European destinations. Visit aircanadavacations.com for further information.
The Air Canada rouge fleet will initially be comprised of two Boeing 767-300ER aircraft to operate transatlantic flights in a two-cabin configuration offering a selection of rouge Plus seats with additional legroom and Premium rouge seats featuring additional seating comfort, space and enhanced meal and beverage service.
Two Airbus A319 aircraft will operate North American flights in an all-economy configuration offering a selection of rouge Plus seats with additional legroom. These four aircraft will be released from Air Canada's existing fleet to Air Canada rouge as the mainline carrier takes delivery of two new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in 2013.
Two hundred new jobs will be created for flight attendants and pilots at Air Canada rouge, in addition to Air Canada hiring 900 employees to meet its own planned workforce requirements as part of its 2012-2013 recruitment program announced September 20, 2012.
Air Canada is Canada's largest domestic and international airline serving more than 175 destinations on five continents.
Visit www.aircanada.com