Dedicated concourse to expedite check-in, offer concierge services

MONTREAL, Jan. 21, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada is enhancing the experience of Premium travelers with the creation of a new Business Class Check-in area at Toronto Pearson. The dedicated concourse will be available to customers travelling in Business Class or customers holding select Premium status beginning January 21, 2016.

"Air Canada is pleased to offer select Premium customers an enhanced level of care, including expedited check-in and concierge services, delivered in a lounge setting through our new Business Class Check-in at our Toronto Pearson global hub. Competition for Premium traffic is intense and we are responding to the expectations of this market segment for a comfortable and convenient airport experience," said Benjamin Smith, President, Passenger Airlines at Air Canada. "As the only Canadian carrier offering a Business Class cabin, Air Canada is already the preferred airline of 86 per cent of Canadian business travelers and we are recognized as the only Four-Star international carrier in North America. Along with other product innovations such as our next generation aircraft cabins and restyled Maple Leaf Lounges, Business Class Check-in marks a further evolution of Air Canada's already industry-leading Premium services."

Air Canada also plans to enhance Priority check-in for customers in Vancouver, Montreal and Calgary. In addition to Business Class Check-in, Air Canada has recently introduced a series of innovations for Premium customers. This includes refurbished Maple Leaf Lounges, a partnership with renowned Canadian chef David Hawksworth to style meals for International Business Class and the Maple Leaf Lounges, enhanced check-in and boarding procedures, new cabin interiors on our wide-body fleet, including next generation lie-flat suites in International Business Class and a designated Premium Economy cabin, and a refined Altitude frequent flyer program.

Business Class Check-in is located in the former Aisle 1 on the departure level at Toronto Pearson. Access to the area is available to all Air Canada Business Class, Premium Economy and Premium rouge customers, Altitude Elite 50K and higher members, and Star Alliance Gold members. Within Business Class Check-in a dedicated Super Elite 100K check-in counter, as well as concierge office, are available for eligible customers.  Other Priority customers will continue to have access to Priority Check-in in Aisle 3 for domestic and Aisle 5 for international flights. For more details please see http://www.aircanada.com/en/news/160120.html.

About Air Canada

Air Canada is Canada's largest domestic and international airline serving more than 200 airports on six continents.  Canada's flag carrier is among the 20 largest airlines in the world and in 2015 served more than 41 million customers.  Air Canada provides scheduled passenger service directly to 63 airports in Canada, 56 in the United States and 86 in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and South America. Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance, the world's most comprehensive air transportation network serving 1,330 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.  For more information, please visit: www.aircanada.com, follow @AirCanada on Twitter and join Air Canada on Facebook.

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SOURCE Air Canada