Air Canada Launches 'Canada Loves Toronto' Campaign

Air Canada today launched a "Canada Loves Toronto" campaign and invited all Canadians to rally in solidarity with Toronto by spending the Victoria Day long weekend in the city to show their support.

"Two years ago a number of prominent Canadians joined together to launch the "Canada Loves New York" campaign to demonstrate Canada's confidence in and support for New York City," said Air Canada President and CEO, Robert Milton.

"We're inviting Canadians to once again pull together, this time to show the world that we have full confidence in the city and people of Toronto and to tell the world that Toronto is safe and a great place to visit."

Air Canada said it will make available deeply discounted fares to encourage Canadians to visit Toronto during the Victoria Day long weekend from May 15 - 20, 2003. Air Canada is also inviting Toronto hotel, restaurant, entertainment, tourism and retail businesses as well as government and other authorities to join the campaign by offering special incentives to travelers.

"Over the past few weeks, Toronto's reputation as a prime, world class travel destination has been put into question by an unrelenting focus on SARS.

While SARS is certainly a major cause for concern, the situation in Toronto is firmly under control and Canadian health authorities have repeatedly assured the public that Toronto is a safe place to visit," said Mr. Milton.

"Thousands of tourism industry jobs and businesses are being affected by the current situation. We are taking this opportunity to re-introduce Canadians and the  world to the real Toronto - a vibrant, cosmopolitan, world class city and the engine of Canada's economy."

As Toronto's airline, Air Canada is proud to bring Canadians and the
world to this great city. We'll be working with our numerous partners in the
Toronto business community and elsewhere to put together packages that will simply be too good to pass up," he said.