Air Canada and Mexicana de Aviacion have announced a comprehensive alliance which will improve service for air travellers between Canada and Latin America and offer customers a wide range of advantages including: frequent flyer benefits, one-stop check-in, schedule coordination and codeshare flights to a variety of destinations.
Effective May 13, Air Canada and Mexicana will begin codesharing on Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa services via Chicago, linking Air Canada`s network to Mexicana`s hub in Mexico City. Effective June 2, Air Canada will launch non-stop service on a codeshare basis to Mexico City three times weekly on Mexicana-operated non-stop flights between both Toronto-Mexico City and Montreal-Mexico City. Seats go on sale May 6, 1999.
Both carriers plan on expanding their networks beginning in July with Air Canada codesharing on Mexicana-operated flights to and from Guadalajara, Cancun, Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta, and Mexicana codesharing on Air Canada-operated flights to and from Winnipeg, Quebec City, Vancouver and Calgary.
“Air Canada`s top-notch service and quality in all facets of the airline business make it the perfect partner for Mexicana,” said Antonio Martinez Salinas, Mexicana`s Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “Mexicana continues to expand its global network both overseas and within North America, and we are extremely pleased to be able to offer global travellers access to and from even more destinations in Canada.”
“As the demand for more air services between Latin America and Canada grows, we are delighted to announce this mutually-beneficial alliance with Mexicana,” said Air Canada Vice President, Marketing, Rupert Duchesne. “Our new working relationship with Mexicana complements Air Canada`s family of high quality alliances and strengthens our products and services throughout the Americas.”
Reciprocal accumulation and redemption of each airline`s frequent flyer program miles will result in increased benefits for Aeroplan and Frecuenta members. Lounge access for eligible members will become available in the near future.
In addition, Mexicana has moved its operations from Terminal One to Terminal Two at Toronto`s Pearson International Airport. The move brings Mexicana into the heart of Air Canada`s operations in Toronto, and reduces minimum connection time to just 40 minutes.

Mexicana Airlines services passengers from the U.S. and Canada to Mexico, Central and South America. Mexicana holds one of the best safety and on-time performance records among international carriers. It has also received prestigious industry awards for best Latin American carrier and outstanding customer service. As the longest operating commercial airline in North America, Mexicana operates more than 300 flights per day to 50 cities. Over the past twelve months, the airline has introduced an acclaimed Business Class service and electronic ticketing. Mexicana also has commercial alliances with United Airlines and Lufthansa.

Montreal-based Air Canada is Canada`s largest airline and a founding member of Star Alliance. Together with its regional carriers, Air Canada operates more than 1,200 daily scheduled flights to over 120 destinations across Canada, the United States, the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Air Canada is fully privatized and employs 23,000 people world-wide. The airline`s service has recently garnered a number of awards including `Best Airline for Travel to Canada` voted by readers of Business Traveler International magazine. In addition, Air Canada was voted best Passenger Service airline in the world by Air Transport World magazine and was also honoured with four distinctions at the 1999 OAG Airline of the Year Awards including Best North American Domestic Airline.
 

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