Air Canada to start Daily Non-Stop Service to Rome

Air Canada is to launch a daily non-stop service to Rome. With the reintroduction of service to Rome on April 4, 2005 from Toronto, Air Canada will offer the only daily non-stop flights year-round between Canada and the Italian capital.

"We are delighted with the prospect of reintroducing service to Rome, and strengthening Air Canada's position as the carrier of choice for convenient and affordable non-stop flights to Europe," said Ben Smith, Vice President, Planning. "Air Canada's successful restructuring has resulted in substantially lower operating costs since we withdrew from the route in 2003, and we look forward to returning to Rome and offering consumers great value and convenience."

Air Canada's Toronto-Rome non-stop service will be operated using 198-seat Boeing 767-200 ER aircraft, with an eastbound flight time of eight and a half hours. Air Canada currently serves Italy with its Star Alliance partner, Lufthansa, via Frankfurt and Munich. With the reintroduction of flights to Rome, Air Canada said it plans to reinstate codeshare services via Rome to a number of destinations within Italy, further extending its network.