Travelers can fly, dine and play virtually on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner from the comfort of their chair

MONTREAL, Nov. 9, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada is the first Canadian airline to use virtual reality technology to simulate the experience of flying on its Boeing 787 Dreamliner for travel agents and potential customers. Through a fully immersive, interactive experience, users can explore all three cabins of service offered on board the aircraft, including enjoying a virtual International Business Class meal complete with wine in an Executive Pod.

"Air Canada is always developing new ways to enhance the customer experience and to engage partners such as the travel agent community, which plays a key role in helping our customers select the travel options best suited to them. Virtual reality enables us to familiarize thousands of travel agents and potential customers with Air Canada's offerings through the magic of an interactive, virtual tour," said Duncan Bureau, Vice President, Global Sales at Air Canada. "We have already seen an increase in bookings since we began using this technology."

With the headset on, and controls in hand, the journey begins with an overview of Air Canada's global route network followed by an exploration of the new Air Canada livery. On the trip users can experience all three cabins: Economy, Premium Economy or International Business. Amenity kits, an Air Canada enRoute magazine, tray tables, and in-flight entertainment are just some of the elements that can be touched, opened and moved, guided by an audio-based flight attendant. Interactive experiences such as dinner service add an extra element of fun.

To complement the Virtual Reality Experience, Air Canada has produced 360 degree videos of the 787 cabin that can be accessed on a mobile device or desktop at https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/fly/onboard/cabin-features.html.

Air Canada's Boeing 787 Dreamliner virtual reality experience will be available at the following events:

• Air Canada Pop-Up Poutinerie, Shoreditch, London (UK), until November 11, 2017.
• True Patriot Love Gala, Toronto, November 9, 2017;
• BAZAR ED, Santiago, Chile.  November 22 to 26, 2017;
• WX Top 100 Leadership Summit, Toronto, November 23, 2017;
• EY Entrepreneur of the Year National Gala, The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto, November 30, 2017.

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 2016 served close to 45 million customers.  Canada's flag carrier is among the 20 largest airlines in the world and in 2016 served close to 45 million customers.  Air Canada provides scheduled passenger service directly to 64 airports in Canada, 57 in the United States and 98 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 1,300 airports in 191 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, which also named Air Canada the 2017 Best Airline in North America.  For more information, please visit: www.aircanada.com/media, follow @AirCanada on Twitter and join Air Canada on Facebook.

SOURCE Air Canada