Air Canada, the longest-serving North American airline in France, is celebrating the 70th anniversary of its Montreal–Paris route.
On 01APR, 1951, a four-engine, 40-passenger Canadair North Star, registered as CF-TFO and operated by Trans-Canada Air Lines (now Air Canada), touched down for the very first time at Orly airport, in the suburbs of Paris.
Initially entailing a layover in London, UK, the flight between Montreal and Paris quickly became a non-stop, weekly service after its initial success.
“This is an important milestone for our airline, our customers and, more specifically, Air Canada’s French colleagues,” said Mark Galardo, Senior Vice President, Network Planning and Revenue Management at Air Canada. “This 70th anniversary is a testament to the special, enduring relationship between the two cities, which have a long history of partnership and collaboration. This transatlantic flight from Canada sees the most demand and is a key part of our DNA.”
Air Canada’s Montreal-Paris route now serves Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport on a year-round basis. The regular schedule consists of two daily flights in the summer season and one daily flight in the winter.
Air Canada has never suspended its Montreal–Paris route during the pandemic, Galardo highlights.
Flights are operated with Boeing 777-300ER aircraft (450 seats), Airbus A330-300 aircraft (297 seats) or Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners (298 seats), and customers have a choice of three service classes: Air Canada Signature Class, Premium Economy and Economy.
Isabelle Hudon, Ambassador of Canada to France and Monaco, congratulated Air Canada in a video posted on the airline’s Twitter account.
“For 70 years, you have played a key role in strengthening the Canada-France friendship. You facilitate our exchanges,” said Hudon. “You bring Canadian and French tourists eager to experience their dream vacation, whether it’s to climb the Eiffel Tower or to explore the majestic Rockies. You bring us together and reunite us.”
