Air Canada has launched daily non-stop seasonal flights between St. John's and London Heathrow, U. K. offering convenient connecting flights throughout Europe with its Star Alliance partner carriers. Air Canada will operate the only daily non-stop flights between Newfoundland and Labrador and London Heathrow until September 26th, 2010.
"We hope the support for this route will enable us to operate it again next year and even extend it year-round... we need the support of the community to ensure the success of this service as well as look ahead for new opportunities. We worked closely with the local community and the Airport Authority to offer travellers in Newfoundland and Labrador the convenience of the only daily non-stop service to London Heathrow during the peak summer travel season," said Marcel Forget Vice-President, Network Planning, Air Canada. "With this improved schedule, we believe our customers in Newfoundland and Labrador will value this direct link to the U.K. as the fastest and most efficient way of making connections to several European capitals such as Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen, Vienna, Moscow, as well as Dubai."
"Our community has strongly expressed their need and their desire for Air Canada to reestablish this important link to Europe. We are encouraged by Air Canada's confidence in the St. John's market and, with the support of the business community and the leisure market, we look forward to the continued growth of this service," said Keith Collins, President and CEO of St. John's International Airport Authority.
"Destination St. John's congratulates Air Canada on this decision and its expression of confidence in Newfoundland and Labrador. This service will open up opportunities to attract meetings, conventions and events that have a European component to St. John's. We all need to work to fill these planes with business and leisure travellers to ensure the business case on this route remains compelling," said Keith Healey, CEO, Destination St. John's.
"I am very pleased that Air Canada has recognized the value of reinstating this air connection to Europe," stated St. John's Mayor Dennis O'Keefe. "There is a real confidence in the St. John's and provincial economy over the past few years. With the impending major resource developments, expansion of ocean technology and the growth of St. John's as a host for international conferences, I anticipate there will be significant take up in this service."
Air Canada flight AC822 leaves St. John's at 21:50, arriving in London at 06:25, and flight AC823 will leave London at 12:35 arriving back in St. John's at 14:35.
The carrier will operate the route using 120-seat Airbus A319 aircraft in a two-cabin configuration offering a choice of Executive Class and Economy service.
With the launch of Air Canada's St. John's-London Heathrow service, Air Canada and Air Canada Jazz offer over 150 scheduled flights each week to 12 destinations across Canada to and from St. John's, including non-stop service to Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal and London Heathrow, as well as same plane service to Calgary, Vancouver, Fort McMurray and Edmonton.
