Air Canada re-introduces non-stop summer service between Edmonton and London-Heathrow

Effective June 1, 2001, Air Canada will commence five times weekly non-stop summer service between Edmonton and London-Heathrow. Flights on the route will be operated with wide body 205-seat Boeing 767-300 aircraft featuring the airline's acclaimed Executive First and Hospitality service. This summer service will be offered until September 30, 2001.

"We are delighted to be back in Edmonton to re-introduce this summer service, offering customers the most non-stop flights between Edmonton and Europe," said Doug Port, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Government Relations, on a visit to Edmonton today for the inauguration of the new Edmonton South Terminal. "With this new international service, we are responding to the growing customer demand for non-stop service between Alberta and the U.K. during the summer peak. The re-introduction of this route is also part of our ongoing commitment to developing air transportation in Edmonton and the province of Alberta."

"This service represents a critical building block towards connecting Edmonton to Europe on a year-round basis. It is now up to the community to prove that we can support such a service," said G. Scott Clements, President and Chief Executive Officer of Edmonton Airports.

"This new non-stop flight connecting Edmonton and London helps satisfy our community's vision for optimal air service," said Jim Edwards, President and Chief Executive Officer of Economic Development Edmonton (EDE). "This vital link to Europe opens the door to a wealth of new opportunities in global markets for businesses in our region while greatly enhancing our ability to attract new companies and tourists. This flight represents our ticket to global competitiveness!"

Tickets are available for sale immediately. To promote the new service, Air Canada is offering a special introductory round trip fare of $889 for travel between June 1 and June 21, 2001, for sale until January 31, 2001. In addition, the airline will offer double Aeroplan miles when travelling round trip for the first time on the route between June 1 and June 30, 2001.

Air Canada flight AC3088 will leave Edmonton at 10:00 p.m. and will arrive in London-Heathrow at 1:20 p.m. the next day. From London, flight AC3089 will depart at 3:05 p.m. and will arrive in Edmonton at 4:55 p.m. the same day, with the exception of Tuesday, when flight AC3089 will leave London at 5:05 p.m. and arrive in Edmonton at 6:55 p.m. Air Canada's schedule has been designed to ensure the best possible choice of connecting flights between London-Heathrow and over 20 European destinations with Star Alliance partners British Midland, SAS and Lufthansa.

With the introduction of the new service, Air Canada and Canadian Airlines will offer up to 15 non-stop flights per day between Canada and the U.K. during summer 2001.