Air Canada bets big on sixth freedom traffic flows in 2016 with a new transborder push

Air Canada is making a solid push in the US transborder market in 2016, as it works to leverage sixth freedom traffic from its growing international long haul operations. The expansion involves new routes, the re-launch of other markets, and also service to hubs of Air Canada's Star Alliance partner United Airlines.

The airline's sixth freedom strategy has been a mainstay of its business plan for a number of years, after Air Canada valued that traffic at several million dollars. It is working to position its hubs as attractive transit points from US destinations that do not have direct access to markets in Asia and Europe.

Air Canada believes that given the solid projections for the US economy, its latest transborder push should be successful. The airline is the lone operator in many of the new markets, providing an opportunity for Air Canada to continue to grow its annual sixth freedom traffic flows.