New Raleigh-Montreal route, services to Toronto upgraded with Business Class

MONTREAL, Oct. 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Air Canada announced today it will enhance services to North Carolina beginning next spring, including with the launch of a new, non-stop daily flight between Raleigh and Montreal. The airline will also deploy larger aircraft on flights between Toronto and Raleigh and Charlotte to increase capacity on these routes and introduce Business Class service.

"Air Canada is pleased to expand its services from North Carolina with a new route to Montreal and larger aircraft operating to Toronto. The new Raleigh-Montreal service will be the only non-stop flight between these cities, while customers travelling between Toronto and Raleigh and Charlotte will now have the option of Business Class, offering an upgraded flying experience. While always a popular leisure destination, North Carolina is also experiencing strong economic growth and Air Canada is making it more convenient and comfortable for customers to travel between Canada and the state," said Mark Galardo, Vice President, Network Planning, at Air Canada.

"We're very excited that Air Canada is continuing to invest in Raleigh–Durham International Airport and our region with service to Montreal, our seventh nonstop international destination. This is one of our top unserved international markets, providing travelers with exciting new opportunities and access to Air Canada's global network," said Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Landguth.

New Raleigh-Montreal daily, non-stop service begins June 3, 2019 using a 50-seat Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ). From Toronto, starting May 1, 2019, three-times daily flights to Raleigh and twice-daily service to Charlotte will be upgauged to a 76-seat, Embraer E175 from a CRJ. All flights are timed to connect with Air Canada's global network through its Toronto and Montreal hubs, and provide for Aeroplan accumulation and redemption, Star Alliance reciprocal benefits, and, for eligible customers, priority check-in, Maple Leaf Lounge access at mainline airports, priority boarding and other benefits.

About Air Canada

Air Canada is Canada's largest domestic and international airline serving more than 220 airports on six continents. Canada's flag carrier is among the 20 largest airlines in the world and in 2017 served more than 48 million customers. Air Canada provides scheduled passenger service directly to 64 airports in Canada, 59 in the United States and 98 in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and South America. Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance, the world's most comprehensive air transportation network serving 1,317 airports in 193 countries. Air Canada is the only international network carrier in North America to receive a Four-Star ranking according to independent U.K. research firm Skytrax, which also named Air Canada the 2017 Best Airline in North America. Air Canada was also named the 2018 Eco-Airline of the Year by the respected airline industry publication Air Transport World in its 44th Annual Airline Industry Achievement Awards for its commitment to emissions reductions through supporting the development of alternative fuels, its numerous green programs and partnerships, and being the first airline worldwide to voluntarily join the World Bank's IMF Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition. For more information, please visit: aircanada.com/media, follow @AirCanada on Twitter and join Air Canada on Facebook. 

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/air-canada-expands-its-presence-in-north-carolina-with-a-new-route-and-enhanced-services-from-raleigh-and-charlotte-300736668.html

SOURCE Air Canada