OTTAWA, May 17 /CNW Telbec/ - Today Air Canada is launching the only non-stop daily flights linking the country's capital, Ottawa with Regina, Saskatchewan's capital city. Non-stop flights from Regina to Ottawa will commence tomorrow morning, May 18. These flights also feature same-plane service to and from Montreal.

"With today's departure of AC8599, Air Canada now links Ottawa and Regina with daily, non-stop service. With the strength of the Saskatchewan economy, we expect this new flight to be popular with business, government and leisure travellers alike as it reduces current travel time by nearly two hours when compared to connecting over other routings," said Marcel Forget, Vice President, Network Planning at Air Canada. "With tomorrow's departure of AC 8598, Air Canada's new flights from Regina to Ottawa will complement our current schedule of three daily flights between Regina and Toronto. This new route offers customers additional connection opportunities with Air Canada's network via Ottawa to and from Europe, Eastern Canada, and the U.S., plus the convenience of same-plane service to Montreal."

Paul Benoit, President & CEO of the Ottawa International Airport Authority welcomed the new flights, stating, "Air Canada continues to show its commitment to the National capital region with the introduction of these new flights. There is strong demand, and this route will also provide convenient and easy connections to and from AC nonstop flights in Ottawa including Europe."

Regina Airport Authority President and CEO, Jim Hunter stated that the Authority and all residents of Regina and southern Saskatchewan welcome this long awaited service, adding, "We believe strongly that Air Canada's faith in the market here will be amply rewarded and that this route will prove successful now and well into the future. We look forward to working together with Air Canada to meet the needs of the strong economic growth here in Regina and southern Saskatchewan."

Flights are operated by Air Canada's regional partner Jazz with 75-seat Bombardier 705 jet aircraft offering a choice of Executive and Economy class, and featuring Air Canada's personal inflight entertainment system available at every seat throughout both cabins. The flights are timed for convenient connections in Ottawa to and from: Halifax, New York and Frankfurt.

Flight times are as follows (all times are local):

- AC8599 will depart Montreal at 17:55 and arrive in Ottawa at 18:32
      before continuing on at 19:05 to Regina, where it will arrive at 20:30.
    - AC8598 will depart Regina at 06:55 and arrive in Ottawa at 11:45 before
      continuing on at 12:15 to Montreal, where it will arrive at 12:53.

Air Canada provides scheduled and charter air transportation for passengers and cargo to more than 171 destinations on five continents. Canada's flag carrier is the 13th largest commercial airline in the world and serves 31 million customers annually. Air Canada has an extensive global network, with hubs in four major Canadian cities (Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary), providing scheduled passenger service directly to 59 Canadian cities, 58 destinations in the United States and 60 cities in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Mexico and South America. As well, customers can collect Aeroplan miles for future rewards through Canada's leading loyalty program Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance, providing the world's most comprehensive air transportation network for Canadian domestic, transborder and international travel. Through its strategic and commercial arrangements with Star Alliance(TM) partner airlines (www.staralliance.com), Air Canada offers service to 1,077 destinations in 175 countries and provides reciprocal top tier frequent flyer benefits.