MONTREAL, March 31 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada today announced that it has entered into talks to explore a closer cooperation with Korea's Asiana Airlines that would result in enhanced service in the Canada-Korea market. A Memorandum of Understanding to build a strategic partnership was signed by the two Star Alliance partners today. This follows an Open Skies agreement signed by Canada and Korea in 2009 which further liberalized air transportation services between the two countries.

"We look forward to working with our Star Alliance partner, Asiana Airlines, to build on our existing codeshare agreement and provide customers on both sides of the Pacific with more choice and streamlined services," said Air Canada President and Chief Executive Officer Calin Rovinescu following a signing ceremony today with Asiana's President and Chief Executive Officer Young Doo Yoon at Asiana's Seoul headquarters.

The strategic partnership between Air Canada and Asiana, subject to the approval of competition authorities in Canada and Korea, would build on their existing Star Alliance partnership and codesharing agreement in place. Air Canada operates daily year-round non-stop service between Vancouver and Seoul with same plane service from Toronto and codeshares on eight routes operated by Asiana including Seoul-Ho Chi Minh City, Seoul-Hanoi, Seoul-Busan and Seoul-Phuket. Asiana codeshares on seven routes operated by Air Canada including Vancouver-Seoul as well as several domestic Canada routes.

Air Canada provides scheduled and charter air transportation for passengers and cargo to more than 167 destinations on five continents. Canada's flag carrier is the 13th largest commercial airline in the world and serves 31 million customers annually. Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance, providing the world's most comprehensive air transportation network for Canadian domestic, transborder and international travel. As well, customers can collect Aeroplan miles for future rewards through Canada's leading loyalty program.