06 May, 2009

Air Canada





Air Canada.
Air Canada is the flag carrier and largest airline of Canada, an airline founded in 1936, it provides scheduled and charter air transport for passengers and cargo to 178 destinations worldwide. It is the world's ninth largest passenger airline by number of destinations, and the airline is a founding member of Star Alliance, an alliance of 26 member airlines formed in 1997. It’s main hub is Toronto Pearson International Airport, which it dominates.


Our Rating  3 stars.


See below of details of the new cabin interiors, which do offer great comfort and easy to fly in style.    We like Air Canada in flight,  the service is friend, efficient and enjoyable.  However, the service on the ground is appalling, from over-crowded departure gates, shoddy and rude customer service staff, late departures and the rudest reservation staff (based in India) of any airline we’ve ever encountered.   We also strongly advise that you NEVER book the last flight of the day,  these are often cancelled.  Overbooking on most international flights is usually around 50 seats.


In the air great, on the ground terrible.


Reservations
  • USA & Canada 1-888-247-2262
  • UK  0871 220 1111
  • Australia 1300 655 767


    Or book online at Opodo for the lowest fares





History
Trans-Canada Airlines
Lockheed Model 10A Electra "CF-TCC" in Trans-Canada Air Lines livery at the Western Canada Aviation MuseumAir Canada's predecessor, Trans-Canada Airlines (TCA), was created by legislation of the federal government as a subsidiary of Canadian National Railway (CNR) on 11 April 1936. The newly created Department of Transport under Minister C. D. Howe desired an airline, under government control, to link cities on the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast. Using $5 million in government seed money, two Lockheed Model 10 Electras and one Boeing Stearman biplane were purchased from Canadian Airways. Experienced airline executives from United Airlines and American Airlines were brought in.
Passenger operations began on 1 September 1937, with an Electra carrying two passengers and mail from Vancouver to Seattle, a $14.20 round trip. On 1 July 1938, TCA hired its first flight attendants. Transcontinental routes from Montreal to Vancouver began on 1 April 1939, using 12 Lockheed Model 14 Super Electras and six Lockheed Model 18 Lodestars. By January 1940 the airline had grown to about 500 employees.


Trans-Canada Air Lines Lockheed 14H2 in 1938In 1942, Canadian Pacific Airlines suggested merging with TCA. Prime Minister Mackenzie King rejected the proposal and introduced legislation regulating TCA as the only airline in Canada allowed to provide transcontinental flights. With the increase in air travel after World War II, CP Air was granted one coast-to-coast flight, and a few international routes.


Originally headquartered in Winnipeg, which was also the site of the national maintenance base, the federal government moved the headquarters to Montreal in 1949; the maintenance base later also moved east. With the development of the ReserVec in 1953, TCA became the first airline in the world to use a computer reservation system with remote terminals.
By 1964, TCA had grown to become Canada's national airline, and in 1964 Jean Chrétien submitted a private member's bill to change the name of the airline from Trans-Canada Airlines to Air Canada. This bill failed, but it was later resubmitted and passed, with the name change taking effect on 1 January 1965.
1970s


1 Place Ville-Marie, which previously housed Air Canada's headquarters During the 1970s, Air Canada operated with government regulations ensuring its dominance over domestic regional carriers and rival CP Air. Short-haul carriers were restricted to one of five regions where they could operate, and could not compete directly with Air Canada and CP Air. CP Air itself was subject to capacity limits on intercontinental flights, and restricted from domestic operations. Air Canada's fares were also subject to regulation by the government.


In the late 1970s, with reorganization at CNR, Air Canada became an independent Crown corporation. Passage of the Air Canada Act of 1978 ensured that the carrier would compete on a more equal footing with rival regional airlines and CP Air, and ended the government's direct regulatory control over Air Canada's routings, fares, and services. The act also transferred ownership of the carrier from Canadian National Railway to a subsidiary of the national government. Deregulation of the Canadian airline market, under the new National Transportation Act, 1987 officially opened the airline market in Canada to equal competition. The carrier's fleet expansion saw the acquisition of Boeing 727, Boeing 747, and Lockheed Tri-Star jetliners.
Air Canada Boeing 747-200 in 1964-1990s livery With new fleet expenditures outpacing earnings, Air Canada officials indicated that the carrier would need additional sources of capital to fund its modernisation. By 1985, the Canadian government was indicating a willingness to privatise both Canadian National Railways and Air Canada. In 1988 Air Canada was privatised, and 43% of its shares are sold on the public market, with the initial public offering completed in October of that year. By this time, its long-haul rival CP Air had become Canadian Airlines International following its acquisition by Pacific Western Airlines.


On 7 December 1987, Air Canada became the first airline in the world to have a fleet-wide non-smoking policy, and in 1989 became completely privatised. The successful privatisation effort was aided by a public relations effort led by company president Claude I. Taylor and chief executive officer Pierre J. Jeanniot.
1990s: strategic changes


1994-2004 livery on a Boeing 767-300ERIn the early 1990s, Air Canada encountered financial difficulties as the airline industry slumped in the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War. In response the airline restructured its management, hiring former Delta Air Lines executive Hollis L. Harris as its CEO. Harris restructured the airline's operations, reduced management positions, moved the corporate headquarters to Dorval Airport, and sold the enRoute card business to Diners Club in 1992. By 1994, Air Canada had returned to profitability. The same year also saw the carrier winning route access to fly from Canada to the new Kansai Airport in Osaka, Japan.


In 1995, taking advantage of a new U.S.-Canada open skies agreement, Air Canada added 30 new transborder routes. In May 1997, Air Canada became a founding member of the Star Alliance, with the airline launching code-shares with several of the alliance's members. The second half of the 1990s saw the airline earn consistent profits, totalling $1 billion for the 1997 to 1999 period.
On 2 September 1998 pilots for Air Canada launched the company's first pilots' strike, demanding higher wages. At the end of 1999 the Canadian government relaxed some of the aviation regulations, aimed at creating a consolidation of the Canadian airline industry. That year, American Airlines launched a takeover bid of ailing rival Canadian Airlines, spurring Air Canada to submit a competing offer for its largest rival.
Boeing 777-300ER C-FIVS "Olympic Mural" lands at Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport 2000s: merger and reorganization. In January 2001 Air Canada acquired Canada's second largest air carrier, Canadian Airlines, merging the latter's operations into its own. As a result, Air Canada became the world's twelfth-largest commercial airline in the first decade of the 21st century.[8] However, as Air Canada gained access to its former rival's financial statements, officials learned that the carrier was in worse financial shape than previously thought. An expedited merger strategy was pursued, but in summer 2000 the integration efforts led to flight delays, luggage problems, and other frustrations. However, service improved following Air Canada officials pledge to do so by January 2001. Following the difficult merger, the airline was confronted by the global aviation market downturn, and the challenge of increased competition, posting back-to-back losses in 2001 and 2002.
Air Canada Fleet as of Dec2010
Aircraft Total Orders Passengers Notes
J Y Total
Airbus A319 35 14 106 120 C-FZUH painted in Trans-Canada Air Lines livery
2 0 132 132 Non-XM'd cabins
Airbus A320-200 41 14 132 146
Airbus A321-200 10 20 154 174
Airbus A330-300 8 37 228 265 C-GHLM painted in Star Alliance livery
Boeing 767-300ER 27 25
24
166
187
191
211
C-FMWY painted in Star Alliance livery
3 24 223 247 Non-XM'd Cabins
Boeing 777-200LR 6 42 228 270
Boeing 777-300ER 12 307 349
Boeing 787-8 37 TBA 23 options; Entry into service: Q1 2014
Embraer 175 15 9 64 73
Embraer 190 45 85 94
Total 204 37 23 options
 
 
Air Canada offers newly refurbished cabin interiors, with new seats, personal seat back entertainment at every seat with hundreds of hours of movies, TV programs and music available on demand, as well as standard 110V electrical outlets at arm's reach for all customers. Air Canada has also introduced the first fully flat beds of any North American carrier in business class across its international fleet*.
Discover our latest improvements in the class of service best suited to your travel needs.
Executive First Service (International travel)*

 Executive First Service features luxurious amenities and priority services to enhance your international travel experience.
Available on most** European, Asian and South American itineraries, our Executive First Suites (shown) provide the ultimate in comfort and convenience with fully flat beds, guaranteed aisle access and many deluxe amenities

*Does not include North America and the Caribbean. See Executive Class section below.
**Executive First Suite (shown above) is not available on select international flights. See
Executive First Service for details.
Executive Class (North American and Caribbean destinations)

Experience personalized service, enhanced comfort and seat back entertainment at every seat.

Economy Class (International destinations)

Relax in the comfort of our enhanced economy seats*, and enjoy hours of entertainment with your personal touch screen TV.

Economy Class (North American and Caribbean destinations)

Relax in comfort and enjoy hours of entertainment with your personal touch screen TV.
New routes and seasonal destinations
We're constantly adding new routes and increasing service to all your favourite destinations around the world. Take a minute to view our:

 
Air Canada's fleet consists of 325 aircraft, including the Jazz fleet of 123 aircraft.
 clip_image002 New cabin interior Number of
aircraft
clip_image003
777-300 (77W) clip_image002[1]
777-200 (77L) clip_image002[2]
clip_image004 Airbus
A330-300 (333)clip_image002[3]
clip_image005 Boeing
767-300 (763) clip_image002[4]
767-300 (763)

 
clip_image006 Airbus
A321-200 (321) clip_image002[5]
clip_image007 Airbus
A320-200 (320) clip_image002[6]
clip_image008 Airbus
A319-100 (319) clip_image002[7]
A319-100 (319)
clip_image009 Embraer
190 (E90) clip_image002[8]
clip_image010 Embraer
175 (E75) clip_image002[9]
202
clip_image011
clip_image012 Canadair
CRJ 705 (CRA) clip_image002[10]
clip_image013 Canadair
CRJ 100/200 (CRJ)
clip_image014

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