CALGARY, Nov. 18 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada today announced that it will introduce non-stop service between Calgary and Tokyo, offering convenient connecting flights throughout Asia with its Star Alliance partner carriers. Air Canada will operate three times weekly flights to Tokyo's Narita International Airport beginning March 27, 2010 in time for summer peak travel. To promote its new Calgary-Tokyo route, Air Canada is offering introductory fares starting as low as CAD $598 round-trip before taxes and other charges. Tickets are now available for purchase at www.aircanada.com and through travel agents.

"The introduction of the only non-stop service between Calgary and Tokyo is great news for customers travelling between Alberta and Asia on business or leisure as well as for freight forwarders," said Ben Smith, Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer. "Air Canada's new non-stop Narita service will provide Albertans direct access to a major Asian gateway that offers one convenient connection point with our Star Alliance partners to key destinations throughout Asia including Hong Kong, Manila, Seoul, Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, Bangkok, Taipei, several points across Japan among others. Our initial schedule of three weekly flights during the 2010 summer season is the first step towards building year-round, daily flights.

"Air Canada has invested significantly in the Calgary market this year, strategically responding to strong demand. With today's announcement of new non-stop services to Tokyo, we have introduced seven new routes serving Calgary over the past 10 months, including daily non-stop flights to San Diego CA, Portland OR and London ON, summer seasonal service to Whitehorse YT and also seasonal non-stop flights to Maui and Honolulu starting in early December," concluded Mr. Smith.

"We are excited to finally offer non-stop service between YYC and Asia," said Stephan Poirier, Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer for The Calgary Airport Authority. "Calgary is a strong economic engine for western Canada and YYC plays an important role in ensuring the city's continued growth in the global economy. Air Canada's new service from YYC to Tokyo's Narita airport means that we truly connect our city and region to the world solidifying YYC's position as Alberta's premier international gateway."

"This is great news for Alberta and marks the first time in many years that Alberta has had direct air service from Japan," said Tourism, Parks and Recreation Minister Cindy Ady. "Direct air access to Alberta is essential for growing visitation from our overseas tourism markets and I am confident that we will be welcoming more Japanese visitors to Alberta next year."

In addition to offering efficient connections at Narita to points throughout Asia with Air Canada's Star Alliance partners, ANA, Asiana, THAI and United Airlines, Air Canada's Calgary-Japan flights are timed to offer convenient connections to and from communities across Alberta and Western Canada served by Air Canada.

Air Canada's Calgary-Tokyo flights will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, departing Calgary at 12:20 p.m. and arriving in Narita the following day at 2:00 p.m. Flights will depart Narita on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 4:00 p.m., arriving Calgary same day at 10:45 a.m.

Air Canada will operate the new non-stop service with fully refurbished 211-seat Boeing 767-300 ER aircraft offering a choice of Economy Class and Executive First service featuring 24 lie-flat bed suites. Further details and a virtual tour of Air Canada's new cabin amenities including complimentary personal seatback entertainment at every seat throughout the aircraft are available at: http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/onboard/cabincomfort.html

Air Canada's new Calgary-Tokyo service will complement the carrier's daily non-stop flights to Tokyo from both Vancouver and Toronto. This summer, the carrier will offer up to 17 flights each week from Canada to Tokyo's Narita International Airport.

Air Canada provides scheduled and charter air transportation for passengers and cargo to more than 170 destinations on five continents. Canada's flag carrier is the 13th largest commercial airline in the world and serves 33 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. Air Canada aircraft offer customers individualized seatback in-flight entertainment systems with hundreds of hours of digital audio-visual entertainment. As well, customers can collect Aeroplan miles for future rewards through Canada's leading loyalty program.

In 2008, the readers of Business Traveler magazine voted Air Canada "Best In-Flight Services in North America," "Best Airline for Business Class Service in North America" and "Best North American Airline for International Travel."