Air Canada today announced significant
improvements in air services to Cuba, making it one of the world`s leading
providers of air services to the Caribbean`s largest island nation. Wide
ranging improvements include more flights, new routes and the introduction of
scheduled air services on most of the 15 routes the carrier operates to Cuba
from cities across Canada. With the introduction of scheduled air services, in
addition to charter options, Air Canada now offers customers the choice of
purchasing air travel only or the convenience of inclusive holiday packages
available in Canada through Air Canada Vacations.
Moreover, on December 2, 2003, Air Canada will launch year round,
non-stop service between Toronto and Havana. The carrier`s new Havana flights
will be operated three times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Along
with the introduction of scheduled year-round service to Havana, Air Canada is
boosting its overall services to Cuba this winter offering customers the
unprecedented choice of up to 25 scheduled flights and two charter-only
flights per week from seven cities across Canada to five destinations in Cuba -
an increase of 13 flights per week from last year`s charter offerings. Among
its new winter services this coming season, Air Canada is introducing non-stop
flights between Montreal-Cayo Largo, Moncton-Holguin and Halifax-Varadero.
“This is a major expansion of services to Cuba that positions Air Canada
as the international airline of choice serving the Caribbean`s largest island
nation,” said Bill Bredt, Vice President, Network and Revenue Management. “In
addition, by now providing scheduled service to complement Air Canada
Vacations` charter options, we are literally opening up accessibility
throughout our network, and throughout the world, to offer customers
unparalleled choice, value and convenience.”
Flights to Havana will be operated with 120-seat Airbus A319 aircraft in
a two-cabin configuration featuring the carrier`s recently re-designed
Executive Class service offering restaurant style meals in first class comfort
at business class prices.
Air Canada`s non-stop services to Cuba span the continent departing from
Calgary, Toronto, London Ont., Ottawa, Montreal, Moncton and Halifax to five
of the most popular destinations in Cuba: Varadero, Holguin, Cayo Largo,
Cayo Coco and now Havana.
Montréal-based Air Canada provides scheduled and charter air
transportation for passengers and cargo to more than 150 destinations on five
continents. Its subsidiary Air Canada Vacations, one of Canada`s leading tour
operators, offers vacation packages including air transportation, hotel
accommodation, car rentals and cruises, to more than 90 destinations. Canada`s
flag carrier is the 11th largest commercial airline in the world and serves
more than 30 million customers annually with a fleet consisting of more than
300 aircraft.
Air Canada has been ranked as the world`s safest airline and in a 2002
survey of the world`s most frequent air travellers by travel information
publisher OAG, Air Canada was voted best airline in North America for the
second time in three years, and Air Canada`s frequent flyer program, Aeroplan,
was voted best in the world two years consecutively in 2002 and 2003. Air
Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance providing the world`s most
comprehensive air transportation network.
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