MONTREAL, Feb. 15 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada today announced that beginning May 17, 2010, it will launch the only non-stop daily flights linking Regina and Ottawa with same plane service to/from Montreal.

"Air Canada is pleased to link Regina and Ottawa with daily, non-stop service with the added feature of same plane service to Montreal. This new flight should be popular with business, government and leisure travellers alike as it reduces current travel time by nearly two hours when compared to connecting over other routings," said Marcel Forget, Vice President, Network Planning at Air Canada. "We continue to strategically expand our network in response to the strength of the Saskatchewan economy. Air Canada's new flights between Regina and Ottawa will complement Air Canada's current schedule of three daily flights from Regina to Toronto."

Flights will be operated by Air Canada's regional partner Jazz with 75-seat Bombardier 705 jet aircraft offering a choice of Executive and Economy class, and featuring Air Canada's personal inflight entertainment system available at every seat throughout both cabins. The flights are timed for convenient connections with Air Canada's network, including London, Frankfurt, New York, Halifax and St. John's for flights leaving Ottawa for Regina, and onward connections to destinations such as Halifax, Boston, New York and Frankfurt for flights arriving in Ottawa from Regina.

Planned flight times are as follows (all times are local) and operate every day but Sunday:

- AC8598 will depart Regina at 6:55 and arrive in Ottawa at 11:45 before
      traveling on at 12:15 to Montreal, where it will arrive at 12:53.
    - AC8599 will depart Montreal at 17:50 and arrive in Ottawa at 18:27
      before traveling on at 19:00 to Regina, where it will arrive at 20:25.

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.