MONTREAL, Dec. 22, 2011 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada welcomes the initiatives announced today by the Canadian federal government to improve border crossing processes under the aviation component of the Beyond Borders agreement between Canada and the United States.

"Air Canada congratulates the federal government for the actions it is taking with respect to air travel under Beyond Borders by expanding the Nexus trusted traveler program and eliminating duplicate screening of connecting travelers' baggage. These measures advance the twin goals of improving security while at the same time streamlining border clearance processes," said Duncan Dee, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Air Canada. "As the largest airline in the trans-border market, Air Canada has a vital interest in making the flow of traffic between Canada and the U.S. as easy and secure as possible. We applaud such initiatives by the Canadian and U.S. governments and encourage them to continue building a border for the 21^st century."

Air Canada is Canada's largest domestic and international full-service airline providing scheduled and charter air transportation for passengers and cargo to more than 175 destinations on five continents.  Canada's flag carrier is the 15th largest commercial airline in the world and serves over 32 million customers annually. Air Canada provides scheduled passenger service directly to 60 Canadian cities, 57 destinations in the United States and 63 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 1,160 destinations in 181 countries.  Air Canada customers can collect Aeroplan miles for future rewards through Canada's leading loyalty program, and Top Tier members enjoy reciprocal frequent flyer benefits including lounge and priority services.  For more information visit aircanada.com, follow @AirCanada on Twitter and join Air Canada on Facebook.