New cities include southern hotspots San Antonio, Memphis and Savannah

MONTREAL, Dec. 7, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada announced today it will launch six new non-stop U.S. services beginning Spring 2017. Three of the routes, Toronto to San Antonio, Memphis and Savannah, bring new destinations into the airline's U.S. network, while the addition of Montreal to Dallas-Fort Worth, Vancouver to Denver and the conversion of the Vancouver-Phoenix route to year-round operation, will deepen Air Canada's already industry-leading transborder schedule.

"These new routes will further solidify Air Canada's position as the leader in the Canada-U.S. transborder market and as the foreign carrier flying the most to the U.S. Apart from linking Canada's largest cities with popular U.S. destinations, these new and expanded services will also serve to channel traffic to and from our domestic and international networks through our major airport hubs, contributing to the success of our ongoing global expansion," said Benjamin Smith, President, Passenger Airlines, at Air Canada.

The new non-stop services will be operated by Air Canada Express starting in May 2017 and continue year-round, except for Toronto-Savannah, which will operate on a summer seasonal basis. All routes will be operated with regional jet aircraft with flights timed to conveniently connect with Air Canada's domestic and international schedule. All flights provide for Aeroplan accumulation and redemption, Star Alliance reciprocal benefits and, for eligible customers, priority check-in, Maple Leaf Lounge access at our hubs, priority boarding and other benefits.

About Air Canada

Air Canada is Canada's largest domestic and international airline with more than 400 routes, 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 64 airports in Canada, 57 in the United States and 90 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.

SOURCE Air Canada