Awarded 'Best Airline in North America' for 10th time 

MONTREAL, Dec. 5, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada has won multiple awards in reader surveys conducted by the world's leading travel magazines, including being named for the tenth consecutive year "Best Airline in North America" by Global Traveler magazine and for the seventh consecutive year "Best North American Airline for International Travel" by Business Traveler magazine.

"We are very gratified to receive this recognition based on surveys of those who know the global airline industry best, frequent business and premium travelers. These awards affirm the success of our strategy to transform Air Canada into a leading international carrier and that customers are responding positively to the significant investment we have made to provide industry-leading products and services, both on-board our aircraft and in the airports from which we operate. Exemplifying our commitment to offer customers the very best amenities was the delivery this year of the first six of the 37 Boeing 787 Dreamliners we plan to introduce into our fleet. These aircraft feature an enhanced version of our International Business Class lie-flat seats, a Premium Economy cabin, and a state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment system available free at every seat throughout our aircraft," said Benjamin Smith, President, Passenger Airlines, at Air Canada.

Air Canada continues to receive industry awards, including being named the only Four Star network carrier in North America by the rating agency SkyTrax and also for the fifth consecutive time 'Best Airline in North America' in the 2014 SkyTrax World Airline Awards. Other recent awards include:

• Best North American Airline for International Travel and Best North American Airline for Inflight Experience – Business Traveler magazine, 2014 Best in Business Travel Awards. This is the seventh consecutive year Air Canada has been named best airline for international travel;
• Best Airline in North America – Global Traveler magazine 2014 GT Tested Reader Survey awards. Air Canada has won this award for ten consecutive years and in recognition of having won this award ten times it was also named to Global Traveler's "Hall of Fame";
• Best Flight Attendants in North America – Premier Traveler magazine, Best of 2014 awards, the third consecutive year Air Canada has won this award.

About Air Canada

Air Canada is Canada's largest domestic and international airline serving more than 180 destinations on five continents.  Canada's flag carrier is among the 20 largest airlines in the world and in 2013 served more than 35 million customers.  Air Canada provides scheduled passenger service directly to 60 Canadian cities, 49 destinations in the United States and 73 cities in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Mexico and South America. Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance, the world's most comprehensive air transportation network serving 1,316 airports in 192 countries.  Air Canada is the only international network carrier in North America to receive a Four-Star ranking according to independent U.K. research firm Skytrax that ranked Air Canada in a worldwide survey of more than 18 million airline passengers as Best Airline in North America in 2014 for the fifth consecutive year.  For more information, please visit: www.aircanada.com.

SOURCE Air Canada - Corporate - Finance