• AC868 Toronto-London Heathrow, AC165 Montreal-Calgary and AC548 Vancouver-Newark/New York operated by all-female crews today
• Flights given clearance and instructions by female Nav Canada Air Traffic Controllers

TORONTO and MONTREAL and VANCOUVER, March 8, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - In celebration of International Women's Day today, Air Canada is operating three flights in its global network with all-female pilots and flight attendants.  In addition, the two Boeing 787 Dreamliner flights from Toronto-London Heathrow and Vancouver-Newark, and Airbus A320 flight from Montreal-Calgary were supported by female ground crews providing customer boarding, as well as aircraft servicing, loading, dispatch and pushback functions, all highlighting the range of professional roles women work in. 

These three flights were given clearance and instructions by female Nav Canada Air Traffic Controllers.  An audio and video clip of the exchange between the pilots and air traffic controllers of AC868 preparing for departure at Toronto Pearson as well as photos for all flights are available here.

"We proudly salute and acknowledge the achievements and contributions of the more than 12,300 women who work at Air Canada worldwide. As a progressive and multiple award-winning top employer that champions equal opportunities regardless of gender, there are no glass ceilings for qualified women here," said Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, Vice President, Human Resources at Air Canada. "Women work alongside male colleagues flying our aircraft, maintaining technologically advanced airplanes and systems, occupying senior management roles in law, finance, accounting, IT, human resources, in-flight service, customer service, commercial services, communications and in specialized airline operations. The sky is truly the limit, and we strongly encourage girls and young women to pursue their aviation dreams and consider careers in non-traditional professions."

Air Canada initially marked the start of Women of Aviation Worldwide Week on Mar. 6 with an all-female piloted flight from Vancouver to Ottawa carrying the female delegates participating in Equal Voice's Daughters of the Vote historic march and presence at the House of Commons today.

Air Canada has 30,000 employees worldwide of which more than 12,300 are women, and more than 420 work in non-traditional professions as pilots, flight dispatchers, mechanics, engineers, technicians, and in aircraft operations.

Information about careers at Air Canada is available at: https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/about/careers.html.

Air Canada's Corporate Sustainability Report, which details diversity initiatives, is available at: https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/about/corporate-responsibility/corporate-sustainability-reports.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 2016 served close to 45 million customers.  Air Canada provides scheduled passenger service directly to 64 airports in Canada, 57 in the United States and 92 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.

About NAV CANADA
NAV CANADA is the country's private sector civil air navigation services provider. With operations from coast to coast to coast, NAV CANADA provides air traffic control, flight information, weather briefings, aeronautical information services, airport advisory services and electronic aids to navigation. Information about careers at NAV CANADA is available at: https://takecharge.navcanada.ca/

SOURCE Air Canada