Press release -
Air Canada Rouge launches Toronto to Glasgow non-stop service
Air Canada Rouge launched its new seasonal non-stop service from Toronto to Glasgow today with a celebration at Glasgow Airport. Air Canada Rouge is Air Canada’s leisure airline and will operate three times per week from Glasgow to Air Canada’s Toronto hub, Toronto Pearson International Airport, until 25 September 2016 (westbound).
“Air Canada has a long history in Scotland, with our first flight arriving in Prestwick in 1943. We are proud to serve the Scottish market and excited to launch this new service from Glasgow to Toronto today,”
said Margaret Skinner, Air Canada’s Director Sales Europe. “This new route will offer our customers in the west of Scotland increased travel options, providing not only non-stop access to Toronto, but also convenient connections through our Air Canada Toronto hub to our extensive network in Canada, the USA, Latin America & the Caribbean.”
Air Canada was joined byScottish Government Minister for International Development and Europe, Dr Alasdair Allan, Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, Cllr Frank McAveety and Amanda McMillan, CEO AGS Airports and managing director of Glasgow Airport, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the departure gate to inaugurate the new service.
The Minister for International Development and Europe, Dr Alasdair Allan, said: “The launch of this service between Glasgow and Toronto is fantastic news and I’m delighted to see it get off the ground today. It will benefit both business travellers and tourists, bringing improved access to international markets making Scotland even more attractive as a tourist destination. I hope this service will help build on the historic and cultural bonds between our two countries. I wish Glasgow Airport and Air Canada Rouge every success with this route.”
Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland, said:
“We are delighted to welcome this fantastic new air service from Air Canada Rouge connecting Toronto with Glasgow, further strengthening our international connectivity and putting Scotland on the world stage. VisitScotland is playing a major role in bringing new air routes to Scotland through innovative marketing partnerships, and we will work with Air Canada Rouge to drive tourism growth for the Scottish economy.
“Canada is a major inbound tourism market for Scotland driven by strong ancestral links – our ties stretch back to the founding of the Canadian confederation which celebrates its 150thanniversary next year– while the immensely popular television series, Outlander, has ignited a further desire in viewers across the Atlantic to explore our history and landscapes. We hope this new service will encourage even more Canadians to make the journey to discover the Spirit of Scotland for themselves.”
Amanda McMillan, CEO of AGS Airports and managing director of Glasgow Airport, said: “Canada has always been a hugely important market for Scotland and the introduction of this new service will provide passengers with access to Air Canada’s extensive route network throughout the Americas. The service will also enhance our links with what is the world’s largest group of airlines, Star Alliance, and we’re delighted to welcome on board such a major player in global aviation during what is our 50th anniversary year.”
Councillor Frank McAveety, Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: “The arrival of Air Canada Rouge’s inaugural Toronto flight and the introduction of three services every week across the peak summer season is a significant boost for Glasgow, one which will further strengthen cultural and business links between our two great cities in the coming weeks.
“More than 40,000 Canadian tourists already visit Glasgow every year, boosting our economy by some £14 million. Canada is our fifth largest international market and there will undoubtedly be strong demand for this service, which has the potential to deliver considerable inbound leisure and business tourism. This is another great example of Glasgow’s efforts to continually grow its air links and connect the city to the global marketplace.”
Air Canada Rouge’s Glasgow-Toronto flight, AC1939, departs Glasgow three times per week (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday) at 8.30 a.m. and arrives in Toronto at 10.55 a.m. local time the same day. The return flight, AC1938, departs Toronto three times per week (Monday, Wednesday and Saturday) at 6.55 p.m. and arrives in Glasgow at 6.40 a.m. the next day local time.
Air Canada Rouge also operates an Edinburgh-Toronto service with up to four flights per week throughout the summer period.
The route will be operated by 282-seat wide-body Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. The aircraft interior features a two-cabin configuration with 24 Premium Rouge seats offering both additional legroom and enhanced service in the front cabin, and 258 Economy seats – including 35 Preferred seats with additional legroom – in the rear cabin.
Premium Rouge customers enjoy spacious seats with deeper recline and 6-7 more inches of legroom than the Economy cabin. Premium Rouge features an enhanced meal service with carefully selected wines and beverages on fine dish and glassware as well as a hot towel and snack service. Premium Rouge customers receive priority check-in and boarding, can check two bags for free (three for eligible Altitude members) and receive a complimentary iPad to enjoy Air Canada Rouge’s streaming in-flight entertainment system, Player. Customers seated in Economy and Preferred seats are served a complimentary hot meal with a selection of non-alcoholic beverages.
Air Canada Rouge flights offer customers in-flight entertainment streamed to their own personal electronic devices, stylish and modern cabin interiors, complimentary advanced seat assignment and the ability to earn and redeem Aeroplan miles.
Air Canada Rouge customers arriving at Toronto Pearson International Airport can connect with Air Canada flights to destinations across Canada, the United States and throughout the Americas. Customers are also eligible for Air Canada’s complimentary generous checked and carry-on baggage allowance.
For more information and to book flights visit www.aircanada.com or call Reservations on 0871 220 1111.
ENDS
About Air Canada
Air Canada is Canada's largest domestic and international airline serving more than 200 airports on six continents. Canada's flag carrier is among the 20 largest airlines in the world and in 2015 served more than 41 million customers. Air Canada provides scheduled passenger service directly to 64 airports in Canada, 55 in the United States and 87 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 1,330 airports in 192 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. For more information, please visit: www.aircanada.com, follow @AirCanada on Twitter and join Air Canada on Facebook.
About Air Canada Rouge
Air Canada Rouge is Air Canada's leisure airline and offers competitively-priced travel to 70 exciting leisure destinations on 99 routes in Europe, Mexico, the U.S., the Caribbean, Asia, South America, Africa and Canada. As a wholly-owned subsidiary, Air Canada Rouge is backed by Air Canada's reputation for safety and reliability for almost 80 years. For more information, visit www.flyrouge.com or to book a flight visit www.aircanada.com.
Media contacts:
Air Canada UK Press Office 0208 276 6800 ukpressoffice@aircanada.ca
Grainne Jarman
Glasgow Airport 0141 848 4558 Brian.Mcclean@glasgowairport.com
Brian McClean
Topics
- Tourism
Categories
- corporate communications
- canada
- flights
- glasgow
- launch
Regions
- Scotland
Notes to Editors
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- The organisation employs 700 people and has offices and VisitScotland Information Centres across Scotland.
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