MONTREAL, July 10, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada announced today it will commence scheduled service to Red Deer, Alberta on September 3, 2013 with three daily flights from Red Deer Airport to Calgary. Flights will be operated by Air Georgian under the Air Canada Express brand, using 18-seat Beechcraft 1900D aircraft.

"Air Canada is strategically expanding its domestic services, offering customers more destinations and choices when flying. Reflecting the general strength of the Alberta economy, we are pleased to start scheduled service from Red Deer, linking Central Alberta conveniently and directly to our Calgary hub," said Marcel Forget, Air Canada's Vice President, Network Planning. "Flights have been scheduled to enable easy connections to Air Canada's extensive domestic, U.S. and international network via Calgary."

Flights are available for purchase now at www.aircanada.com and through travel agents.  Sample introductory one-way fares including all taxes from Red Deer are as follows: Vancouver-$188; Toronto-$277; Halifax-$334; Newark-$299; Los Angeles-$231. In addition, customers collect Aeroplan Miles through Canada's leading loyalty program when travelling with Air Canada.

"We are so excited to welcome Air Canada Express to Red Deer Airport. This new air service is a tremendous step in our continuing push to enhance business and leisure air travel opportunities for the residents of Central Alberta," said RJ Steenstra, CEO, Red Deer Airport Authority. "Central Albertans will now be connected to Canada and the rest of the world through Air Canada and its alliance partners. This new service will be of tremendous benefit to business and commerce in the area and that is a very exciting prospect."

Air Canada is Canada's largest domestic and international airline serving more than 175 destinations on five continents. Canada's flag carrier is the 15th largest commercial airline in the world and in 2012 served close to 35 million customers. Air Canada provides scheduled passenger service directly to 59 Canadian cities, 53 destinations in the United States and 67 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 1,328 destinations in 195 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 2013 for the fourth consecutive year. For more information, please visit: www.aircanada.com.

SOURCE: Air Canada