Air Canada
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Overview - Air Canada
source: www.aircanada.com

Air Canada together with its regional airline subsidiary, Air Canada Jazz, provides scheduled and charter air transportation for passengers and cargo to more than 150 destinations, vacation packages to over 90 destinations, as well as maintenance, ground handling and training services to other airlines.

As Canada’s flag carrier, Air Canada is recognized as a leader in the global air transportation market by pursuing a strategy based on value-added customer service, technical excellence and passenger safety.

Air Canada has been ranked as the world’s safest airline in an independent analysis by air safety consultants of more than 500 airlines using ten management and environment criteria. In a 2002, survey of the world’s most frequent air travellers, conducted by travel information publisher OAG, Air Canada was voted best airline in North America for the second time in three years; Air Canada’s frequent flyer program, Aeroplan, was voted best in the world for two consecutive years in 2002, and again in 2003 when the airline’s website was also voted best in the world. In 1999, Air Canada was selected as best passenger service airline in the world by Air Transport World Magazine. In addition, the readers of Business Traveler International have chosen Air Canada as their preferred airline to Canada for the past ten consecutive years.

Air Canada's predecessor, Trans-Canada Airlines (TCA), inaugurated its first flight on September 1st, 1937. The 50-minute flight aboard a Lockheed 10A carried two passengers and mail between Vancouver and Seattle. By 1964, TCA had grown to become Canada's national airline; it changed its name to Air Canada. The airline became fully privatized in 1989. In 2000, Air Canada acquired Canadian Airlines International, Canada’s second largest air carrier, thus becoming the world’s tenth largest international carrier.

Customer Service Highlights

Executive First, Air Canada’s redesigned international executive class service, offers first class comfort and sophistication at business class fares and is available on most transatlantic and all transpacific routes. Air Canada’s personalized Concierge service is available for Executive First and Aeroplan Super Elite customers at major Canadian, US and international airports.

Air Canada offers electronic ticketing on virtually all of its North American routes, and is expanding this convenient service to include international destinations as well.

In 1999, Air Canada became the first airline in Canada to introduce the convenience of self-serve check-in kiosks at major airports across Canada.

Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounges welcome Executive First and Executive Class ticket holders, as well as Aeroplan Super Elite and Elite members, Star Alliance Gold cardholders and Diners/ enRoute Maple Leaf Club cardholders. Air Canada's 19 quiet, comfortable lounges offer a selection of newspapers and magazines as well as complimentary beverages. They are ideal for customers who want to work or relax before a flight. Many of Air Canada's lounges offer state-of-the-art business centres. The Xerox Business Centres offer a complete range of leading-edge business equipment and computers, modern furnishings and high-speed Internet accessibility.

Air Canada offers its longhaul customers the convenience of freshening up after overnight flights at its arrivals lounges at London Heathrow and Vancouver airports. These lounges have private shower facilities as well as valet services for clothes pressing and shoe cleaning, Xerox business centres, dining areas for continental breakfast, and quiet lounge areas.

Air Canada’s frequent flyer program, Aeroplan, is Canada’s most popular. Over 6 million members earn miles toward reward travel to destinations served by Air Canada, its regional airlines and worldwide partner airlines. Aeroplan miles earned on Star Alliance flights count toward achieving top-tier membership status with Air Canada. In addition, Air Canada Aeroplan members earn miles through an extensive network of car rental companies, hotels, telephone companies and affinity credit card companies.

Air Canada's Network

Air Canada provides scheduled and chartered passenger jet service directly to 21 Canadian cities, 30 destinations in the United States and 54 cities in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Mexico and South America. Air Canada operates on average 630 scheduled flights each day, and serves approximately 21 million scheduled and charter customers annually.

Air Canada’s extensive global network, schedules and customer services are enhanced through its membership in the Star Alliance™ network with Lufthansa, SAS, Thai Airways International, United Airlines, VARIG, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, Austrian Airlines Group, Singapore Airlines, bmi british midland, Asiana Airlines, Spanair, LOT Polish Airlines and US Airways. Together, Star Alliance carriers serve 755 airports in 132 countries.

Air Canada Jazz

Air Canada’s wholly-owned regional airline, Air Canada Jazz, and its commercial partners serve an additional 48 Canadian and 20 U.S. cities. Air Canada Jazz operates on average 724 flights per day and serves approximately 6 million customers annually. This important regional airline plays a vital role in providing connecting traffic to the Air Canada network as well as meeting the needs of local customers.

Air Canada Vacations

This major Canadian tour operator, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Air Canada, offers best-value vacation packages (including roundtrip airfare, hotel, return transfers, cruises and car rentals) to over 40 destinations in the Caribbean and North America. Over 250,000 passengers travelled with Air Canada Vacations in 2003.

Cargo Network

Air Canada’s Cargo division provides direct cargo service to more than 150 Air Canada destinations and to most countries worldwide through interline partners. Air Canada cargo services offered include guaranteed choice of flight, and airport-to-airport services for high priority shipments (Express 30, Express 60, Express 90-t and Express 90-I). Air Canada provides cargo services on all its passenger aircraft including the Boeing 747-400 Combi aircraft which will carry cargo in the rear of the main deck. Air Canada is the largest supplier of air cargo services to Canada Post Corporation.

Technical Services

Air Canada Technical Services offers customers worldwide a diverse range of technical expertise in the maintenance, repair and overhaul of aircraft, engines, components and various ground and test equipment. Air Canada Technical Services also sells ground-handling services to airlines and other customers, as well as training services for mechanics, flight attendants and pilots.

Employees

As at December 31, 2003, Air Canada employed approximately 33,000 people worldwide including 3,500 at Air Canada Jazz.

Slide Show of the Air Canada fleet