- Non-stop Ottawa-Frankfurt daily beginning June 1, 2008
    - Non-stop Toronto-Dusseldorf six times weekly beginning May 1, 2008
    - Second daily non-stop Calgary-Frankfurt beginning April 14, 2008

    MONTREAL, Nov. 5 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada today announced a major
expansion of service between Canada and Germany in cooperation with its Star
Alliance partner, Lufthansa, that features new non-stop flights between
Ottawa-Frankfurt and Toronto-Dusseldorf, as well as the addition of a second
daily non-stop flight between Calgary-Frankfurt. By summer 2008, together the
two Star Alliance partners will operate up to 11 flights per day in each
direction between five cities in Canada and three cities in Germany,
representing an increase of 23 per cent in seat capacity from the previous
year.
    "The introduction of new non-stop services between Canada and Germany in
cooperation with our Star Alliance partner Lufthansa will provide significant
benefits for international air travellers and freight forwarders in our
National Capital Region, Calgary, Montreal and our main Toronto hub," said Ben
Smith, Air Canada's Executive Vice President - Commercial. "The convenience of
more non-stop flights, streamlined connections using in-transit facilities at
Frankfurt to points throughout the globe, and comprehensive reciprocal
frequent flyer rewards are key benefits that our customers enjoy since the
foundation of Star Alliance ten years ago."

    Ottawa-Frankfurt

    Effective June 1, 2008, Air Canada will introduce the only daily non-stop
flights between Ottawa and Frankfurt, Lufthansa's main hub and Star Alliance's
major European hub for connecting flights to points throughout its
comprehensive international network. Connections in Frankfurt are simple and
fast through special in-transit facilities that enable passengers to proceed
directly to their flight without the need to collect baggage. Air Canada will
operate the new year-round service using 211-seat Boeing 767-300 aircraft
featuring the carrier's new Executive First Suites with lie flat beds, as well
as personal seat back entertainment for all passengers throughout the
aircraft. In Ottawa, eligible customers will enjoy Air Canada's new Maple Leaf
Lounge to work or relax before the flight. Flights depart Ottawa at 19:35,
arriving in Frankfurt at 08:55. Flights depart Frankfurt at 14:15, arriving in
Ottawa at 16:45. Lufthansa will offer the service on a codeshare basis.
    "Air Canada's new Ottawa-Frankfurt service is excellent news for the
National Capital Region as growth in demand for international passenger
services from Ottawa continues to be very strong," said Paul Benoit, Ottawa
International Airport Authority President and CEO. "Having a non-stop
connection to Frankfurt has been a top priority not only for the Airport
Authority, but for our community as well. Ottawa travellers have expressed a
need for another European destination that offers connectivity to
hard-to-reach places in the world, while our local tourism industry thrives on
improved access to the region. Air Canada's Ottawa service to its primary Star
Alliance hub in Europe is a perfect fit."

    Toronto-Dusseldorf

    Effective May 1, 2008, Lufthansa will introduce seasonal non-stop service
between Toronto and Dusseldorf serving northwest Germany, including Cologne,
and offering connections to over 20 European cities. Air Canada will offer the
service on a codeshare basis. Lufthansa will operate flights May to October
using 221-seat Airbus A340-300 aircraft on the new route. Flights depart
Toronto at 16:35, arriving in Dusseldorf at 06:05. Flights depart Dusseldorf
at 12:25, arriving in Toronto at 14:45.
    On the Toronto-Frankfurt route, Air Canada and Lufthansa together offer
up to three daily non-stop flights. Effective March 1, 2008, Air Canada will
offer brand new 349-seat Boeing 777-30ER service on a daily basis, in addition
to its second daily refurbished Boeing 767-300ER service, both featuring the
carrier's new Executive First Suites with lie flat beds, as well as personal
seat back entertainment for all passengers throughout the aircraft. These
flights are offered on a codeshare basis by Lufthansa.

    Calgary-Frankfurt

    In response to growing business and leisure demand to and from Western
Canada, Lufthansa will introduce a second daily non-stop flight between
Calgary and Frankfurt effective April 14, 2008. Lufthansa will operate
221-seat Airbus A330-300 aircraft on the route offering a choice of three
classes of service. Flights depart Calgary at 14:45, arriving in Frankfurt at
07:55, and depart Frankfurt at 11:10, arriving in Calgary at 12:50. These
flights will be offered on a codeshare basis by Air Canada.
    This second daily Calgary-Frankfurt flight complements year-round daily
non-stop service operated by Air Canada. Flights depart Calgary at 18:25,
arriving in Frankfurt at 11:55, and depart Frankfurt at 13:45, arriving in
Calgary at 15:50. Air Canada operates these flights using 211-seat Boeing
767-300 aircraft featuring the carrier's new Executive First Suites with lie
flat beds, as well as personal seat back entertainment for all passengers
throughout the aircraft. These flights are offered on a codeshare basis by
Lufthansa.

    Montreal-Germany

    Effective April 1, 2008, Air Canada will operate brand new 349-seat
Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on its daily Montreal-Frankfurt service, replacing
Airbus 274-seat A330-300 aircraft currently operated on the route. This most
recent addition to Air Canada's widebody fleet features the carrier's new
Executive First Suites with lie flat beds, as well as personal seat back
entertainment for all passengers throughout the aircraft.
    Montreal-Munich seasonal non-stop service will also be enhanced to offer
a choice of three classes of service for travellers during the summer.
Lufthansa will operate flights April to October using Airbus A340 aircraft.
Air Canada offers this service on a codeshare basis, complementing its
year-round Montreal-Frankfurt non-stop service.

    Canada-Germany

    With these new and expanded services between Canada and Germany, Air
Canada and Lufthansa together will offer a total of up to 154 non-stop flights
per week between Canada and Germany on the following eight routes:
Vancouver-Frankfurt, Calgary-Frankfurt, Toronto-Frankfurt, Toronto-Munich,
Toronto-Dusseldorf, Ottawa-Frankfurt, Montreal-Frankfurt and Montreal-Munich.
Further extending its international network, Air Canada offers codeshare
service operated by Lufthansa via Frankfurt and Munich to an additional 40
destinations in 22 countries. Pending receipt of government approvals, Air
Canada plans to expand these codeshare services to include Belgrade, Zagreb,
Amman and Kuwait.

    About Air Canada

    Montreal-based Air Canada provides scheduled and charter air
transportation for passengers and cargo to more than 170 destinations on five
continents. Canada's flag carrier is the 14th largest commercial airline in
the world and serves 32 million customers annually with a fleet consisting of
335 aircraft. Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance, providing the
world's most comprehensive air transportation network. In 2007, Air Canada was
ranked in 2007 as the "Best Airline in North America" for the second time in
three years in a independent passenger survey of 14 million air travellers
conducted by Skytrax. In addition, Air Canada was recently voted 'Best Airline
in North America' and 'Best Airline in Canada' by the readers of Global
Traveler magazine, and 'Best Business Class to Canada' by the readers of
Business Traveler magazine.