Route opens connections for customers flying to Scandinavia

MONTREAL, Dec. 21 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada announced today it will launch daily service between Toronto and Copenhagen next summer as it further expands international flying at its major hub to offer customers more choice of destinations and routes.

"Air Canada is building its Toronto hub and this year has now announced long-haul service to four new, major international destinations. The addition of Copenhagen next summer is strategically important as passengers will be able to conveniently connect with our Star Alliance partner Scandinavian Airlines to reach such cities as Oslo, Helsinki, Warsaw, Stockholm and Gothenburg," said Ben Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. "We will continue to look for opportunities to grow our hub after earlier announcing flights starting next summer to Athens, Barcelona and, via Montreal, Brussels. Toronto's geographic position and the consolidation of our operations under one roof are enabling us to establish Lester B. Pearson International Airport as a major North American and global hub for the Star Alliance."

Air Canada will begin non-stop, daily flights between Toronto and Copenhagen on June 24, 2010, subject to government approval. The only non-stop service to Scandinavia from Canada will be operated with a 211-seat Boeing 767-300 ER aircraft featuring 24 lay flat bed suites in Executive First and a personal digital in-flight video system, a USB port and a power plug available at every seat throughout the aircraft. Service will operate daily in the summer, with reduced frequency in the winter. Flights will be timed to conveniently connect with Star Alliance partner Scandinavian Airlines, which offers more than 120 flights per day from Copenhagen to 52 destinations.

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    Flight     Depart Toronto         Arrive Copenhagen
               Daily
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    AC882      17:15                  06:55 (+1)
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Flight     Depart Copenhagen      Arrive Toronto
               Daily
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    AC883      12:20                  14:50
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Canada provides scheduled and charter air transportation for passengers and cargo to more than 170 destinations on five continents, including by next summer 14 European destinations.

Canada's flag carrier is the 13th largest commercial airline in the world and serves 33 million customers annually. Air Canada, a founding member of Star Alliance, provides the most comprehensive air transportation network for Canadian domestic, transborder and international travel. As well, customers can collect Aeroplan miles for future reward travel through Canada's leading loyalty program.