New application advances strategy to give travellers convenient mobile
    optionsMONTREAL, Aug. 20 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada today became the first North
American airline to release an Apple(R) iPhone(TM)/iPod touch(R) application.
The free App will make it convenient for travellers with Apple devices to
retrieve electronic boarding passes, track flight information in real-time,
receive notification of itinerary changes and obtain other details about Air
Canada flights.
    "Air Canada continues to be an industry leader in offering customers
mobile and wireless services that provide real-time information and convenient
functions for people who are on the move. We are significantly expanding these
options with the release of our Air Canada App, which will enable travellers
using an Apple iPhone or iPod touch device to check-in, board and obtain other
details about Air Canada flights. This is only the first iteration of our App
and we will continue to add new features in response to customer demand," said
Ben Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. "In addition
to our Apple App, Air Canada is introducing more cutting-edge technical
innovations that will enhance and simplify our self-service and mobile options
for customers who like the freedom of managing their own travel."
    Available free on-line from the Apple App Store on iPhone or iPod touch
or at www.itunes.com/appstore/, the new App was developed for Air Canada by
IBM Canada. It will among other things enable users of Apple iPhone and iPod
Touch devices to: keep track of and update all of their Air Canada and Jazz
flights from a single location; receive messages and link to their electronic
boarding passes; access Air Canada Mobile check-in to select a seat and
retrieve an electronic boarding pass; book flights using an Air Canada Flight
Pass; rent a car or access other convenient travel links; and find and track
any Air Canada or Jazz flight.
    Air Canada, recognized as an industry leader in self-service and mobile
technology - it was the first airline in the world to introduce 2-D Electronic
Boarding Passes in 2007 - is also refining and expanding its existing products
to better meet the needs of customers. Among other things Air Canada is:- Adding new functions to airport kiosks, offering customers the option
      to purchase an upgrade, reprint boarding passes, and obtain an
      electronic boarding pass, including at international airports
    - Enhancing its boarding passes to provide more and new travel
      information such as check-in and baggage drop-off times
    - Offering easy-to-use, personalized flight notification so customers can
      be automatically updated through their mobile devices about changes to
      their itinerary. For greater ease, customers can also create a "My
      Message" in-box on computer and mobile devices to receive all Air
      Canada communications in a single, convenient location.
    - Providing additional mobile detail about the status of Air Canada
      flights, including gate information, flight status, diversions,
      arrivals and local weather conditionsMontréal-based Air Canada provides scheduled and charter air
transportation for passengers and cargo to more than 170 destinations on five
continents, including 58 communities across Canada and 57 destinations in the
United States - by far the most of any carrier within Canada or between Canada
and the United States. Canada's flag carrier is the 13th largest commercial
airline in the world and serves 33 million customers annually operating a
modern fuel-efficient fleet with an average age of just nine years.
    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 complimentary 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."