Press release -
Non-stop service from Toronto to Glasgow launched
Air Canada has announced new seasonal non-stop flights between Glasgow Airport and its Toronto hub, Toronto Pearson, beginning in summer 2016. The route will be operated by Air Canada rouge, its leisure carrier.
The new service between the two cities will operate three times per week from 14 June to 25 September 2016.
The flights are conveniently timed to connect with Air Canada’s extensive network across the Americas.
VisitScotland Chairman Mike Cantlay said:
“Today’s announcement of another exciting new air route into Scotland is brilliant news – not least given Air Canada’s membership of Star Alliance, one of the world’s greatest airline networks. Glasgow will now enjoy enhanced links across the Atlantic, and Scotland will be able to welcome even greater numbers of visitors from across Canada and beyond.
“Strong ancestral and family bonds mean that Canada is a major inbound tourism market for Scotland, and new reasons to visit like the interest stimulated by the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and the avidly-watched “Outlander” TV series, mean that we are in a good place to generate more visitors to Scotland. Air Canada rouge has been an important partner for us and we are working to ensure that partnership continues to drive additional benefit for the Scottish economy.”
Air Canada rouge is designed to offer exceptional customer service, a relaxed in-flight environment and a host of Air Canada benefits. The Glasgow-Toronto route will be operated by 280-seat wide-body Boeing 767-300ER aircraft offering a choice of premium and economy cabins.
Premium rouge customers can benefit from an enhanced meal service with carefully selected wines and beverages on fine dish- and glassware as well as a hot towel and snack service. Customers seated in rouge and rouge Plus will be served a complimentary hot meal with a selection of non-alcoholic beverages. Air Canada rouge flights offer customers streamed wireless inflight entertainment to their own personal electronic devices, stylish and modern cabin interiors with innovative new seats, and the ability to earn and redeem Aeroplan miles.
Margaret Skinner, Air Canada’s Director, Sales - Europe said:
“We are pleased to offer our Scottish customers even greater access to Toronto and beyond with direct flights from Glasgow next summer.
“These additional flights complement our existing summer service from Edinburgh, offering convenient connections to destinations across North, Central and South America as well as the Caribbean through our Toronto hub.”
Francois Bourienne, Commercial Director at Glasgow Airport, said:
“The decision by Air Canada rouge to introduce a direct service between Glasgow and its hub in Toronto is fantastic news for the airport and for Scotland. Not only will its arrival further strengthen our long haul connectivity, it will enhance our links with what is the world’s largest group of airlines, Star Alliance. Canada has always been a hugely important market for Scotland and passengers will be able to take advantage of Air Canada’s extensive route network throughout the Americas. The new Toronto service will also help generate significant inbound tourism for Glasgow and we look forward to welcoming the airline on board next year.”
Minister for Transport and Islands Derek Mackay said:
“I congratulate both Glasgow Airport and Air Canada on the announcement of this new route, which will no doubt prove popular with both business travellers and tourists. Direct services like this provide Scottish companies with improved access to international markets and make Scotland even more attractive as a tourist destination, helping to build on the historic and cultural bonds between our two countries. I look forward to welcoming the first visitors from Toronto when the new service takes off next summer.”
Topics
- Tourism
Categories
- corporate communications
- air canada rouge
- international marketing
- toronto
Regions
- Scotland
Notes to Editors
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- Follow us on twitter: @visitscotnews
- VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to maximise the economic benefit of tourism to Scotland.
- The organisation’s core objective is to contribute to the Tourism 2020 Strategy ambition of growing tourism revenues by £1 billion by 2020.
- This will be supported by seven overarching strategies:
- Marketing: we will market Scotland and its outstanding assets to visitors from all parts of the world, including the promotion of Scotland to people living in Scotland to visit different parts of the country
- Events: we will support the national events strategy and its delivery, and sustain, develop and promote Scotland’s international profile as one of the world’s foremost events destinations
- Internationalisation and International Engagement: we will utilise all our platforms to enable Scottish-based tourism businesses to better understand international opportunities and market to a global audience and we will work within One Scotland Partnerships to optimise the potential of Scotland’s Diaspora and our strategic partners at regional, European and global levels
- Customer Experience: we will provide information and inspiration to visitors both locally and globally via their preferred medium of choice
- Quality and Sustainability: we will provide support and advice to businesses, with the goal of improving the quality and sustainability of the tourism sector in Scotland. We will provide quality assurance to visitors through our Quality Schemes
- Inclusive Tourism: we will strive to make tourism in Scotland inclusive and available to all
- Working in Partnership: we will listen to and work with the industry, partners and communities to shape our offering and support
- VisitScotland works together with tourism businesses to make tourism a success for everyone and ensure the industry continues to grow.
- The organisation employs 700 people and has offices and VisitScotland Information Centres across Scotland.
- According to a recent Deloitte study, the tourism economy supports 270,000 jobs in Scotland in 20,000 diverse businesses. The same study calculates that the tourism economy contributes £11 billion annually (direct and indirect impact, including day visits) and supports around 10 per cent of employment in Scotland. Almost 16 million tourists take overnight trips to Scotland.
- For VisitScotland’s press releases go to http://www.visitscotland.org/media_centre.aspx, tourism statistics and frequently asked questions go to http://www.visitscotland.org/
- Where possible, a Gaelic speaker will be made available for broadcast interviews on request (Far an tèid iarraidh, agus far am bheil sin nar comas, bruidhinnidh neach le Gàidhlig aig agallamh)
- For holiday information on Scotland go to www.visitscotland.com
- For information about business events in Scotland go to www.conventionscotland.com
Year of Food and Drink 2015- 2015 is the Year of Food and Drink, a celebration of Scotland’s natural larder and the role that food and drink plays in shaping our economic success.
- Scotland generates over £2.5m per day through food and drink tourism.
- A series of themed months will create an appetite for key areas of Scotland’s food and drink industries – from seafood and whisky to berries and high-quality meat
- For more information, visit www.visitscotland.com/tastescotland
