Air Operating Certificate Granted By Transport Canada

With five days to go until its historic inaugural flight on Canada Day, July 1, Air Canada rouge is ready to start flying with a start-up fleet of four aircraft -- two Boeing 767-300ERs and two Airbus A319s.

Air Canada has also announced a major expansion to Air Canada rouge's route network with new holiday destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, Florida and Las Vegas for its 2013-2014 winter season for a total of 23 Sun market destinations. All routes are converted from Air Canada and all flights will be operated using Airbus A319 aircraft, with the exception of Toronto-Las Vegas and Toronto-Montego Bay flights that will be operated with Boeing 767-300ER aircraft.

"With our first flights just days away, we're ready to launch a new kind of leisure travel with Air Canada rouge," said Michael Friisdahl, Chief Executive Officer and President of the airline and the Air Canada Leisure Group. "Every decision in the past several months has been taken with the goal of ensuring a leading vacation travel experience. We've kept a tight rein on our costs so that we can offer competitive fares that include the many benefits offered as part of the Air Canada family. Our bookings to date have exceeded our expectations with many our initial flights full. For all those who had a vacation ahead and booked Air Canada rouge even before we started flying, and for everyone travelling with us in the future, we thank you and look forward to making sure your vacation starts and ends on your Air Canada rouge flight."

On Friday, June 21 Transport Canada granted Air Canada rouge its Air Operating Certificate, the official federal regulatory approval required to operate an air carrier in Canada and the result of months of progressive approvals of key stages of operations preparation. Air Canada rouge has also been granted Canadian Transportation Agency licenses that allow commercial operations, all licenses and permissions for foreign Civil Aviation Authorities and all overfly permissions with foreign agencies. The start-up Air Canada rouge crew -- 127 members strong -- have been fully trained in safety through Air Canada, and have completed "customer service excellence" training as well.

Air Canada rouge's start-up fleet of A319 aircraft transitioned from Air Canada have been converted inside and out. The airline's B767-300ERs, also from Air Canada, have been fully converted save the seat configuration which is being completed after the busy Europe summer season. Both aircraft types are sporting a new white, red and burgundy livery.

(Images provided by Air Canada.)

FMI: www.aircanada.com