Air Canada’s plan of attack flies ver America
When it comes to maintaining domestic air superiority, US carriers have been shaking their fists at Persian Gulf airlines that have rapidly increased their American presence. Yet there’s another threat that may be growing in their own backyard—or more precisely, just north of it. Air Canada has been around for 80 years, but only recently sought to parlay torrid growth into global ambition. The company aims to turn its three major Canadian hubs into larger transfer points for global travelers crossing North America. Flying to Europe or Asia? Try Toronto, Montreal, or Vancouver as your connection—you may very well like these airports far more than Chicago, New York, or Los Angeles, Air Canada is telling travelers. And the carrier isn’t shy about singing its own praises. “Every time an American flies up on us they go ‘Oh my God, you’re the best kept secret. How did we not know about this?’” said Ben Smith, Air Canada’s president of passenger airlines. “That is what’s music to my ears.” Air Canada’s full-year 2016 results are expected Friday, and will probably continue a remarkable financial turnaround that began after what CEO Calin Rovinescu described as “the near-death crisis years” of 2008-2009. The carrier has been radically increasing its international footprint, and in Q2 and Q3 of 2017 will become the champion of long-haul capacity growth. As it ramps up seasonal flying this spring, Air Canada’s total long-haul capacity will exceed 18%, surpassing Emirates, which has been adding new routes from Dubai to just about everywhere. In the summer quarter, long-haul seat growth will top 10%. With these powerful numbers as a backdrop, Air Canada is launching an all-out assault to the south. In May, the airline launches new service to a half dozen US cities, including smaller markets such as Memphis and Savannah, Ga. These will further expand a global route map that stretches from Algiers to Reykjavik and Taipei to Tel Aviv. The airline is also scouting Africa for future destinations. <br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2017-02-16/star/air-canada2019s-plan-of-attack-flies-ver-america
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Air Canada’s plan of attack flies ver America
When it comes to maintaining domestic air superiority, US carriers have been shaking their fists at Persian Gulf airlines that have rapidly increased their American presence. Yet there’s another threat that may be growing in their own backyard—or more precisely, just north of it. Air Canada has been around for 80 years, but only recently sought to parlay torrid growth into global ambition. The company aims to turn its three major Canadian hubs into larger transfer points for global travelers crossing North America. Flying to Europe or Asia? Try Toronto, Montreal, or Vancouver as your connection—you may very well like these airports far more than Chicago, New York, or Los Angeles, Air Canada is telling travelers. And the carrier isn’t shy about singing its own praises. “Every time an American flies up on us they go ‘Oh my God, you’re the best kept secret. How did we not know about this?’” said Ben Smith, Air Canada’s president of passenger airlines. “That is what’s music to my ears.” Air Canada’s full-year 2016 results are expected Friday, and will probably continue a remarkable financial turnaround that began after what CEO Calin Rovinescu described as “the near-death crisis years” of 2008-2009. The carrier has been radically increasing its international footprint, and in Q2 and Q3 of 2017 will become the champion of long-haul capacity growth. As it ramps up seasonal flying this spring, Air Canada’s total long-haul capacity will exceed 18%, surpassing Emirates, which has been adding new routes from Dubai to just about everywhere. In the summer quarter, long-haul seat growth will top 10%. With these powerful numbers as a backdrop, Air Canada is launching an all-out assault to the south. In May, the airline launches new service to a half dozen US cities, including smaller markets such as Memphis and Savannah, Ga. These will further expand a global route map that stretches from Algiers to Reykjavik and Taipei to Tel Aviv. The airline is also scouting Africa for future destinations. <br/>
