MONTREAL, Dec. 24 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada and Air Canada Jazz advise
that on-going and forecasted severe winter storm conditions in the Vancouver
area have resulted in reduced airport operations including de-icing, and the
cancellation of all short- and medium-haul flights to and from Vancouver
today, December 24th. Air Canada will endeavour to maintain its scheduled
transcontinental and international long-haul flights to and from the following
destinations for the remainder of today: Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, London
Heathrow, Asia-Pacific (Hong Kong, Shanghai, Narita, Seoul and Sydney,
Australia) and Hawaii (Honolulu and Maui). The flight schedule to and from
Vancouver for Thursday December 25th is expected to remain reduced. Air Canada
will continue to provide updates as information becomes available.
    Customers in Alberta should note that while westbound flights to and from
Vancouver have been cancelled today, eastbound flights to eastern Canada, the
United States and Europe are planned to operate to and from Calgary and
Edmonton.
    Air Canada flights in Central and Eastern Canada are operating according
to schedule, subject to winter weather-related delays.

    Air Canada advises the following:
    ---------------------------------

    It is strongly recommended that customers travelling in the coming days
check on the status of their flight prior to leaving for the airport by
consulting the Air Canada website online at aircanada.com, or by calling Air
Canada's automated flight information system at 1-888-422-7533, or by using a
web-enhanced cell phone.
    Customers holding tickets on cancelled flights are strongly urged not to
proceed to the airport until they have reconfirmed a new booking on a future
flight.
    Customers with flights to and from the affected areas who wish to make
alternate travel arrangements to travel later can do so without penalty, space
permitting, through Air Canada Reservations at 1-888-247-2262; TTY hearing
impaired: 1-800-361-8071. Certain conditions may apply.
    The volume of calls to call centers is expected to be heavy and we thank
our customers for their patience.
    Air Canada deeply regrets that the travel plans of our customers have
been disrupted. Air Canada continues to monitor its operations closely and
will continue to add capacity and flights where possible, and adjust its
schedule in order to ensure its customers reach their destinations as soon as
possible. We thank you for your understanding.