MONTREAL, March 28 /CNW Telbec/ - Today marks the expansion of Air Canada's network to its most northern destination with the start up of daily non-stop service to Iqaluit, Nunavut from Ottawa with same-plane service to/from Montréal.

"Air Canada is strategically expanding its domestic services, offering customers more destinations and choice when flying," said Marcel Forget, Vice President responsible for Network Planning. "The introduction of flights from Air Canada's newest and most northern destination to both Montréal and Ottawa links Canada's eastern Arctic directly to our global network with convenient connections to points across our extensive domestic, transborder and international network."

Air Canada's Iqaluit flights will be operated by Air Canada Jazz with made-in-Canada, Bombardier CRJ 705 jet aircraft offering a choice of Executive or Economy class service with all-leather seating. The CRJ 705 aircraft features Air Canada's popular personal seatback entertainment at all 75 seats throughout the aircraft.

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     Flight         Depart                Depart                 Arrival
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    AC 8963   Montréal at 08:30   Arrives Ottawa at 09:09,  Iqaluit at 12:55
                                  Departs Ottawa at 09:55
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    AC 8988   Iqaluit at 13:45    Arrives Ottawa at 16:40,  Montréal at 18:13
                                  Departs Ottawa at 17:35
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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 awards through Canada's leading loyalty program.

In 2009, Air Canada won four top honours in Business Traveler magazine's "Best in Business Travel" annual reader survey: "Best Flight Attendants in North America," "Best In-flight Services in North America," "Best North America Airline for Business Class Service," and "Best North American Airline for International Travel." In 2009 as well, the readers of Global Travel magazine voted Air Canada "Best Airline in Canada" and "Best Airline in North America."