Air Canada sees A220 jet delivering boost for key US transit traffic

Air Canada said Wednesday it will launch a direct Seattle-Montreal service in May 2020 with its new A220-300 jets, as the carrier eyes new routes to expand its share of lucrative international transit traffic to and from the United States. Airbus’s smallest commercial jet, expected to enter Air Canada’s fleet in December with its first delivery, will help the carrier open new routes and increase capacity to cities that lack enough traffic to warrant a larger plane, Canada’s largest carrier said. “The economics that come with this aircraft allow Air Canada to open new routes that you couldn’t serve profitably,” said Mark Galardo, the Montreal-based carrier’s vice president of network planning. Air Canada will use the fuel-efficient 137-seat jet, developed by Bombardier, to help attract US passengers flying through its Canadian hubs, Galardo said. The Montreal-Seattle route, starting May 4, will allow US passengers to connect to destinations in Europe and North Africa. “Part of our business case for the route is having some Seattle-to-Europe traffic (connect) via Montreal,” Galardo said. Air Canada also said it will begin A220 service on May 4 between Toronto and San Jose, California.<br/>