CALGARY, Aug. 18 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada announced today that beginning
December 5, 2009, it will launch the only non-stop, seasonal service between
Calgary and Hawaii.
    "We are pleased to launch the only non-stop flights from Calgary to both
Honolulu and Maui this winter, saving more than two and a half hours of trip
time in each direction when compared to flying over other routings," said
Marcel Forget, Vice President, Network Planning, Air Canada. "We expect this
new service to be particularly popular with Albertans looking to escape winter
and enjoy the tropical Hawaiian islands. Air Canada's new Calgary-Hawaii
flights are also timed for convenient connections to and from Edmonton and
other points in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Toronto and points across
eastern Canada."
    "Air Canada's two new non-stop services to both Honolulu and Maui are a
great addition to the Calgary passenger route network," commented Stephan
Poirier, Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer for The Calgary Airport
Authority. "We are pleased with Air Canada's confidence in the Calgary market.
These flights offer great convenience for travellers heading for sun
destinations, and consolidate Calgary's position as the premiere international
gateway for Alberta."
    Air Canada will operate these flights with Boeing 767-300ER aircraft
offering a choice of Executive or Economy Class service. Flights are now
available for purchase, with fares starting as low as $269 Cdn one way from
Calgary to Honolulu, and $299 Cdn one way from Calgary to Maui before taxes
and other charges.
    This winter, Air Canada will offer up to five weekly flights from Calgary
to Hawaii, including up to two flights weekly to Honolulu and up to three
flights a week to Maui. On Saturdays beginning December 5 (with additional
flights on Mondays and Fridays beginning December 21), Flight AC43 will depart
Calgary at 14:20, arriving Maui at 18:35. Flight AC 44 will depart Maui at
19:55, arriving back in Calgary at 05:15.
    On Sundays beginning December 6 (with additional flights on Thursdays
beginning December 24), Flight AC 41 will depart Calgary at 14:05, arriving in
Honolulu at 18:20. Flight AC 42 will depart Honolulu at 19:40, arriving back
in Calgary at 05:10.
    The Calgary-Hawaii flights will complement the carrier's 15 weekly
flights during peak winter from Vancouver to Hawaii.
    "With our immediate efforts at the Hawai'i Tourism Authority focused on
increasing visitor arrivals, we, along with the Hawai'i Visitors & Convention
Bureau, are excited to partner with Air Canada on the launch of its new,
nonstop seasonal flights from Calgary to Oahu and Maui," said Mike McCartney,
President and CEO of the Hawai'i Tourism Authority. "Canada continues to be an
important market for our state and we look forward to welcoming more visitors
through Air Canada's new flights to experience all that Hawai'i has to offer."
    With the announcement today of new non-stop services to Honolulu and Maui
from Calgary, Air Canada over the past six months has introduced six new
routes serving Calgary, including daily non-stop flights to San Diego CA which
launched on May 15, daily non-stop flights to Whitehorse YT and London ON
which both began on June 1, and daily non-stop flights to Portland which began
June 15.

    Montréal-based 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. As well, customers can collect Aeroplan miles for future awards
through Canada's leading loyalty program.