Air Canada, Canada’s official airline and the largest in the maple leaf country, is the leading provider of scheduled passenger services in domestic, cross-border (Canada-United States) and international markets, originating and terminating in the country. In addition, it is a founding member of Star Alliance, the world’s most comprehensive airline network.
Headquartered in Montreal, its predecessor was Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA), which made its maiden flight on 1 September 1937. With a duration of fifty minutes and operated by a Lockheed L-104, it made the journey between Vancouver and Seattle carrying two passengers and postal mail.
The excellence it offers on the ground and on board has been recognised with the Best Airline in North America award at the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2025, following customer satisfaction surveys conducted among approximately twenty-two million travellers worldwide.
At the awards ceremony held at the Paris Air Show, Air Canada’s Signature in Toronto was also recognised as the World’s Leading Business Class VIP Lounge Catering Service. It also received a five-star rating in the International Airline category from the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) in 2025 and the 2024 Gold Level certification from Excellence Canada in Mental Health in the Workplace.
Among the company’s recent improvements are the launch of fast, free Wi-Fi for Aeroplan members on flights within North America, as well as to and from sunny destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean. From 2026, this free service will be extended to international flights. Until then, Aeroplan members will continue to be able to send free text messages on board these flights. Sponsored by Bell, this new service will enable Aeroplan members to enjoy video streaming and gaming on their personal devices, positioning Air Canada as a leader in connectivity.
Other improvements offered by the airline include complimentary snacks and beverages on board, expanded content for its award-winning in-flight entertainment system, the opening of new VIP lounges and the renovation of existing ones, the optimisation of airport processes, an award-winning frequent flyer programme, and intermodal connection options with a single ticket.
Air Canada destinations
With the largest number of seats and flight frequency of any Canadian airline, Air Canada continues to expand its network with the announcement of new routes and the resumption of services.
Spain and the United States are connected by flights departing from Madrid and Barcelona airports. Madrid is connected to Montreal with four flights per week in summer and three in winter, and to Toronto with five flights per week. On the other hand, a total of five weekly flights depart from Barcelona to Montreal and another five to Toronto. Over the course of the next year, a new route will begin operating from Palma de Mallorca Airport, connecting this city with Quebec City with one of the new A321 XLR aircraft, with four weekly flights between June and October.
Air Canada’s excellent connectivity allows you to enjoy sunny winter destinations in Mexico such as Cancún or Tulum and in the Caribbean, including Punta Cana, Montego Bay, Kingston, Providenciales Island (Turks and Caicos Islands, British Overseas Territory), Nassau and San Juan. You can also visit South American destinations such as Santiago de Chile, Bogotá and Lima with a single stopover in Montreal.
On the other hand, flights depart from Toronto Airport to Prague, Rio de Janeiro, Cartagena, Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadalajara, Nanaimo, Jacksonville and Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago); Montreal Airport has flights to Naples, Porto, Santiago, Cartagena, Guatemala, Edinburgh, Bermuda, and Cincinnati; Vancouver Airport has flights to Manila, Beijing, Nashville, Tampa Bay, Raleigh, and Huatulco (Mexico); Ottawa Airport has flights to London (United Kingdom), Nassau, and Montego Bay; also to these last two destinations from Halifax and to Port-de-France from Quebec.
Air Canada’s domestic network connects different regions of the country with flights from fifty airports, averaging over five hundred and twenty-eight flights per day. Air Canada is the foreign airline with the most flights to the United States, with a total of 389 daily flights serving more than 50 US airports. The international network spans five continents, serving ninety airports from its hubs in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, as well as Calgary, Halifax, and Ottawa, with an average of over one hundred and seventy flights daily.
In 2023, Air France launched its intermodal network, offering booking options that allow its customers to make intermodal connections at airports in eight countries. This will enable Air Canada passengers to use rail services in France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, South Korea and Great Britain, as well as the UK’s leading coach service: National Express.
This year, Air Canada announced the expansion of its multi-code operating agreement with Lufthansa, which includes the Lufthansa Express Rail service at Frankfurt Airport, operated by Deutsche Bahn. Thanks to this alliance with the Lufthansa Group and its new partnerships with AccesRail and WorldTicket, users can benefit from a simplified booking process to create hassle-free travel itineraries that allow them to combine their flights with train or coach journeys.
Air Canada Premium Offers
Under the name Air Canada Signature Service, the Canadian airline offers a premium service that includes fully reclining seats, access to concierge services at many airports, fast check-in and security screening where available, access to VIP lounges, priority baggage handling and preferential boarding.
Air Canada’s Signature Suite offers a renowned culinary experience, setting a new standard for premium travel departing from Toronto and Vancouver. Located in Terminal 1 of Toronto Pearson Airport and Vancouver International Airport, Signature Suites are reserved for select Signature Service customers travelling on international flights.
The Maple Leaf Lounges offer a comfortable pre-flight experience, whether you want to relax or work, with a varied selection of meals and complimentary services.
At Toronto Pearson and Montreal-Trudeau airports, Air Canada cafés offer a selection of Canadian craft beers, wines and hot snacks, as well as locally inspired food, beverages and specialty coffees to take away or enjoy on the spot in a relaxed café-style setting.
At Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport, in the domestic departures terminal, the Air Canada | Aspire Café is a modern VIP lounge with 133 seats. Quiet workspaces, a private meeting room, and premium food and beverages are just some of the complimentary services offered in this VIP lounge, which covers more than 390 square metres.
The Air Canada Concierge Service is available at forty-five airports worldwide for members of Aeroplan Super Elite—Air Canada’s loyalty programme—and, on the same day, at the airport for Signature Service customers.
The Premium Economy cabin offers superior services and comfort on all wide-body aircraft, such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, 777-300ER and 777-200LR, and the Airbus A330-300. Preferential seats are available in the cabin for those who wish to have more space between seats (up to ten centimetres more) or to board and disembark the aircraft more quickly.
Experience in gastronomy and wines
Renowned Canadian chefs and a sommelier collaborate with the company to design and improve its onboard food and beverage programme, creating menus that incorporate cultural flavours and local ingredients, and recommending the wines that best pair with each gastronomic delight.
Chef David Hawksworth creates exclusive dishes with a Canadian twist, offered exclusively on Air Canada international flights in Air Canada Signature Class (except to India and Japan) and in Air Canada Signature Suites.
Chef Jérôme Ferrer brings his unique culinary style to Air Canada’s Signature Class on North American flights. He also adds his personal touch to meals served in Premium Economy and Economy Class on international flights departing from Canada.
Chef Vikram Vij creates contemporary Indian dishes that are served in all cabins on flights to India.
Chef Masaki Hashimoto creates Japanese-style meals served in Air Canada’s Signature Class on flights to and from Japan, including traditional dishes and sake pairings.
Sommelier Véronique Rivest selects the wines served on board, ensuring judicious pairings that are perfect for enjoying at high altitude.
