Air Canada to Launch New Montreal-Madrid Route and Expand Transatlantic Capacity in Summer 2024
Air Canada, the largest Canadian airline, has revealed its intentions to introduce a new year-round route connecting Montreal and Madrid. Additionally, the airline plans to operate at 100% of its peak summer 2019 transatlantic capacity during the summer of 2024. These moves are in response to the anticipated popularity of European destinations among travelers in the coming year, aiming to offer increased options and flexibility to passengers.
The newly established Montreal-Madrid route is scheduled to commence operations on May 1, 2024. Flights will be available five times a week, specifically on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Air Canada will deploy a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft configured with 255 seats, including Signature Class, Premium Economy, and Economy Class. The outbound flight from Montreal is set for 20:30, arriving in Madrid at 09:40 the following day. The return journey will depart from Madrid at 13:15, reaching Montreal at 15:20.
This route will be the sole year-round service connecting Montreal and the Spanish capital, complementing Air Canada’s existing Toronto-Madrid flights. The airline aims to cater to both leisure and business travelers, providing convenient connections to various other European and African destinations through its partner airlines.
Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President of Revenue and Network Planning at Air Canada, expressed optimism about the travel industry’s resurgence and said, “Air Canada saw a tremendous rebound in international flying this past summer, particularly on the trans-Atlantic, and we expect Europe will remain popular next year. In anticipation of this, we are expanding our flying schedule to offer customers more choice and flexibility as they begin to plan their 2024 holidays.”
In addition to the Montreal-Madrid route, Air Canada plans to enhance its flight frequencies and launch dates for several other European routes in summer 2024. The airline aims to reach 100% of its peak summer 2019 transatlantic capacity, capitalizing on the robust recovery in its largest international market. Routes that will see increased flights or earlier start dates include Montreal-Athens, Montreal-Amsterdam, Montreal-Copenhagen, Toronto-Athens, Toronto-Brussels, Toronto-Edinburgh, and Vancouver-London. In total, Air Canada will offer 51 routes to 30 cities across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and India during the summer of 2024.
The airline remains committed to ensuring the safety and reliability of its services while supporting local communities and economies in the destinations it serves. To protect customers and employees from COVID-19, Air Canada has implemented stringent health and safety protocols, including mask mandates, aircraft cleaning procedures, and complimentary testing kits. Additionally, the airline has made investments in upgrading its fleet with newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft, such as the Airbus A220 and the Airbus A321neo.
finance.yahoo.com, forbes.com