MONTREAL, June 3, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - The arrival of flight AC818 at Dublin Airport, Ireland, this morning marks the successful launch of non-stop service between Montreal and Dublin. Flights will be operated until October 12, 2018, using Air Canada's newest single-aisle aircraft, the Boeing 737 MAX 8 featuring a Premium Economy and Economy cabin configuration.

"Capitalizing on the growing traffic between Canada and Ireland, we are pleased to inaugurate Montreal-Dublin flights," said Benjamin Smith, President Passenger Airlines at Air Canada. "Air Canada will offer the best market coverage of any carrier between Canada and Ireland with service between three Canadian hubs and two Irish destinations. This includes new Toronto-Shannon flights, up to daily non-stop Toronto-Dublin service, as well as seasonal non-stop Vancouver-Dublin service."

"The accelerated development of our air service in recent years has made Montréal-Trudeau a much more strategic hub – a hub for international aviation. With recent additions such as Shanghai, Algiers, Tel Aviv, Lima, Tokyo and today, Dublin, Air Canada is listening to Montrealers and constantly offering them new and popular destinations. The Irish community in Montreal is not only large but it has a considerable influence on the city's cultural life. Many passengers will be able to benefit from this direct link this summer," said Philippe Rainville, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aéroports de Montréal.

"I am delighted to welcome the launch by Air Canada of its new non-stop service from Montreal to Dublin. This new service will greatly enhance and widen the air connectivity between our two countries. I have no doubt that it will further boost the strong growth in business and leisure tourism between Ireland and Canada," said the Ambassador of Ireland Jim Kelly.

Dana Welch, Tourism Ireland's Manager in Canada, said: "We are excited about the launch of the new Air Canada route between Montreal and Dublin. Tourism Ireland looks forward to continuing to work closely with Air Canada and the Dublin airport to support demand for this route. As an island destination, the importance of convenient, direct, non-stop flights cannot be overstated – they are absolutely critical to achieving growth in inbound tourism."

Air Canada has configured its Boeing 737 MAX with two cabins of service: Premium Economy and Economy. Features of the new aircraft include:

• Premium comfort and ambiance with improved seats and innovative LED mood lighting along the ceiling;
• An upgraded in-flight entertainment system with a sleek, new 15 language user interface. Coming soon, passengers will be able to stream video and audio to their own devices;
• Upgraded overhead storage space compartments offer additional space for every single passenger to bring a carry-on bag;
• The latest quiet engine technology with up to 40 per cent noise reduction, offering more peace and quiet for customers when flying;
• The Boeing 737 MAX burns 20 per cent less fuel per seat than the previous Next-Generation 737.

All flights provide for Aeroplan accumulation and redemption, Star Alliance reciprocal benefits and, for eligible customers, priority check-in, Maple Leaf Lounge access at the Montreal hub, priority boarding and other benefits.

In 2018, Air Canada is launching ten new destinations from Montreal: London, Windsor, Victoria (Canada); Tokyo-Narita, (Japan); Phoenix, Pittsburgh and Baltimore (U.S.); Dublin (Ireland); Lisbon (Portugal) and Bucharest (Romania).

Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge and its regional airline partners flying under the Air Canada Express banner operate on average approximately 2,400 flights per week between Montreal and 97 destinations: 26 in Canada, including 9 in Quebec, 23 in the United States, 26 in the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico, 16 in Europe, one in China, one in Japan two in North Africa, one in the Middle East and one in South America.

About Air Canada
Air Canada is Canada's largest domestic and international airline serving more than 220 airports on six continents.  Canada's flag carrier is among the 20 largest airlines in the world and in 2017 served more than 48 million customers.  Air Canada provides scheduled passenger service directly to 64 airports in Canada, 59 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 1,317 airports in 193 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.  Air Canada was also named the 2018 Eco-Airline of the Year by the respected airline industry publication Air Transport World for its commitment to emissions reductions. For more information, please visit: aircanada.com/media, follow @AirCanada on Twitter and join Air Canada on Facebook.  

Internet: aircanada.com

SOURCE Air Canada