Air Canada rouge service expands to more holiday destinations with 2013-2014 Winter Schedule
Air Canada stated (25-Jun-2013) growth of its leisure carrier subsidiary, Air Canada rouge, is on track to expand to a total of 23 holiday destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, Florida and Las Vegas for its 2013-2014 winter season. Details include:
- Destinations: A number of popular holiday destinations currently served by Air Canada's mainline carrier will be converted to Air Canada rouge service on a phased-in basis beginning Oct-2013 through Mar-2014 as additional aircraft are released by the mainline airline for operation by its leisure carrier. Air Canada rouge will operate services to the following destinations for its 2013-2014 winter schedule with services now available for purchase:
- Mexico: Services from Toronto to Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas and Huatulco, subject to government approval.
- United States: Services from Toronto and Montreal to Orlando and Las Vegas, and from Toronto to Sarasota;
- Caribbean: Services from Toronto to Montego Bay, Jamaica; Grenada; St. Kitts; Grand Exuma, Bahamas; Curacao, Netherlands Antilles; and La Romana, Dominican Republic. This is in addition to Air Canada rouge service commencing with its summer 2013 schedule on 01-Jul-2013 from Toronto year-round to 10 Caribbean and Central America destinations: Kingston, Jamaica; the Dominican Republic (Punta Cana, Puerto Plata and Samana), Cuba (Varadero, Cayo Coco, Holguin and Santa Clara) and Costa Rica (San Jose and Liberia).
- Fleet: All services will be operated using A319 aircraft, with the exception of Toronto-Las Vegas and Toronto-Montego Bay services that will be operated with 767-300ER aircraft. Air Canada will take delivery of five new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft for its mainline fleet between Jun-2013 and Feb-2014, and the first three of 37 787 aircraft by the summer of 2014. Air Canada is scheduled to take delivery of seven 787 aircraft in 2014 and the remaining 30 between 2015 and 2019. Air Canada rouge's 01-Jul-2013 start-up fleet consisting of two A319 aircraft and two 767-300ER aircraft will grow to ten aircraft by the end of 2013 with the addition of six A319 aircraft by Dec-013, and an additional four A319 aircraft by March 2014, for a total of 14 aircraft by the end of the 2013-2014 winter season. [more - original PR]
Air Canada: "We are delighted with the response to Air Canada rouge's inaugural summer season as it prepares for take-off July 1st. Our plans for growing the Air Canada rouge fleet are on track to serve more holiday destination markets where we can now compete on a more cost effective basis operating our new leisure carrier, while leveraging the strength of Air Canada Vacations. Once Air Canada rouge completes its inaugural summer season to Edinburgh, Venice, Athens and a number of Caribbean destinations, its flying will expand southward for the winter to an additional 13 destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico and select U.S. holiday markets....As new Boeing 777-300ER and 787 aircraft enter the Air Canada mainline fleet, we intend to continue spooling up Air Canada rouge to reach a total of up to 50 aircraft. The growth of our leisure carrier, in tandem with the mainline fleet renewal and international network expansion, is a key element of Air Canada's overall strategy for sustainable, profitable growth, both at the mainline and leisure carrier.....Air Canada will be well positioned to expand its mainline global network to new, higher business-demand destinations while Air Canada rouge profitably expands Air Canada's presence on a lower cost basis in current and future leisure markets that present new opportunities," Calin Rovinescu, President and CEO. Source: Company statement, 25-Jun-2013.