Air Canada, Canadian Airlines and Regional Carriers Increase Accessibility to Lower Fares

Air Canada, Canadian Airlines and their regional carriers are introducing two new fare policies that increase accessibility to lower fares to and from small communities, as well as for travel for reasons of bereavement. The newly-integrated carriers are implementing these new policies to ensure fair and consistent pricing throughout their networks in Canada.

To increase accessibility to discounted fares to and from small communities across Canada, Air Canada, Canadian Airlines and their regional carriers are creating a new 14-day advance purchase fare representing savings on average of 38 per cent off of current lowest year-round published fares. More than 700 markets, representing 30 per cent of the airlines' markets in Canada, will have access to these new fares.

``Consumers in small communities will benefit from increased access to lower fares,'' said Lise Fournel, Executive Vice President, Commercial. ``Travel agents will also benefit by being able to use published through fares, thus simplifying the steps to better serve customers.''

Air Canada, Canadian Airlines and their regional carriers are also responding to customer feedback by revising their bereavement travel policy to ensure fairness and efficiency when customers are required to make last-minute travel arrangements in the event of death or imminent death of immediate family members. Effective today, bereavement travel will be calculated using a 75 per cent reduction off the full economy fare, instead of the current 50 per cent. This brings bereavement fares in line with approximately the lowest year-round published fares. The airlines offer bereavement fares to eligible customers, subject to presentation of supporting documentation, for travel to and from all Canadian, U.S. and international destinations, with the exception of travel originating in Japan.

Air Canada, Canadian Airlines and their regional carriers constantly review feedback received from their customers and the travel agency community, and revise their pricing policies to ensure they remain fair and competitive.