Tag Archives: 7673Y0

Air Canada to form a new leisure group with combination of new low-cost airline subsidiary and Air Canada Vacations

Air Canada (Montreal) has unveiled plans to form an integrated leisure group, combining the activities of its tour operator business, Air Canada Vacations, with its new low-cost leisure airline to launch in 2013. In addition, the airline announced the appointment of Michael Friisdahl as President and Chief Executive Officer to lead its new leisure group which will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Air Canada.

The new low-cost leisure carrier will commence service in June 2013 with two Boeing 767-300 ER aircraft and two Airbus A319 aircraft that will be released from Air Canada’s mainline fleet. It will serve popular holiday destinations in Europe and the Caribbean that are either currently underserved, or that do not generate adequate profitability with Air Canada’s existing cost structure. At launch, the leisure carrier will assume select Air Canada leisure services and will also operate certain new destinations not currently operated by Air Canada. Further details on the leisure airline’s summer 2013 program, schedule and product offering will be communicated later this fall with Air Canada’s 2013 schedule. The carrier’s plans are subject to obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals.

The leisure carrier will increase its fleet as Air Canada starts to take delivery of new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft in 2014, thereby freeing up aircraft for transfer to the leisure carrier. As this occurs and subject to commercial demand, the leisure carrier may operate up to 20 Boeing 767-300 ER aircraft and 30 Airbus A319 aircraft, for a total of 50 aircraft.

On September 20, 2012, Air Canada announced that it will hire more than 900 employees over the next 12 months to meet its planned workforce requirements at the main airline. In addition, 200 new jobs will be created for flight attendants and pilots at the new low-cost leisure carrier.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Boeing 767-300s will be freed up with the arrival of the 787 Dreamliners. Boeing 767-3U0 ER C-GHPF (msn 26206) completes its final approach into Miami International Airport (MIA).

Air Canada:

Sunwing Airlines to fly the Toronto-Glasgow route starting on June 13

Sunwing Airlines (flysunwing.com) (Toronto-Pearson) will launch a summer seasonal route linking Toronto (Pearson) starting on June 13. Flights to Glasgow will operate weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with returns on Thursdays and Sundays, until September 9, 2012. All flights will be aboard the wide-bodied Boeing 767-300, which seats up to 300 passengers.

All flights to Glasgow will be operated on the “High Frills” Sunwing Airlines, where passengers are treated to the award winning Champagne Service, which includes a bon-voyage glass of champagne, hot towel service, a choice of hot meals at lunch and dinner served with choice of wine, and complimentary in-flight entertainment, including first run movies.

Sunwing: