There was music and there was song at Dublin Airport as Air Canada rouge flight AC 1990 – a Boeing 767 – inaugurated the new year-round service to Toronto, with onward connections on the carriers extensive network.
A real celebratory atmosphere permeated Gate 302 in Terminal One, as VIPs and media mingled with passengers travelling to Toronto, who enjoyed refreshments and a face painting facility.
The carrier will operate four weekly flights from the capital to its hub, Toronto Pearson International Airport. This service will increase to daily during the summer peak from 23rd June 2014. This represents a 44% increase compared to last summer.
“We are excited to launch this Air Canada rouge year-round service, offering our customers in Ireland competitive fares, a relaxed inflight environment and outstanding customer service,” said Robert Atkinson, Air Canada’s General Manager UK, Ireland and Northern Europe. “As well as benefiting from direct access to our Toronto hub, customers can take advantage of convenient connections to destinations across North, Central and South America, and the Caribbean.”
The ribbon-cutting ceremony at Dublin Airport: Marc Filiatreault, First Officer, Air Canada rouge; Cormac O’Connell, Head of Aviation Business Development, DAA; Canadian Ambassador to Ireland, The Honourable Loyola Hearn; Kevin Toland, Chief Executive, DAA; Robert Atkinson, General Manager UK, Ireland and Northern Europe, Air Canada; Eamon Flanagan, General Sales Agent for Air Canada; Alex Pittman, Senior Director International Operations, Air Canada rouge; Vincent Harrison, Managing Director, Dublin Airport; and Captain Duff Kaufman, Air Canada rouge
The Canadian Ambassador to Ireland, the Honourable Loyola Hearn, said: “We are very pleased to see the new service established. We also want to express gratitude to the Direct Flight Committee, which worked to make this a reality. Year-round direct service will greatly benefit business, tourism and the travelling public generally, and strengthen the links between the two countries.” He went on to pay tribute to the Air Canada GSA for Ireland Eamon Flanagan, who he said had been instrumental in making the case for year-round flights.
Vincent Harrison, Dublin Airport Managing Director, said he was delighted to welcome Air Canada rouge’s new year-round service to Toronto. “There are strong economic and cultural links between Ireland and Canada so this is great news for business and leisure passengers. With over 60 Irish companies based in Canada and almost four million Canadians claiming Irish heritage, Canada is a very strong market for Dublin Airport and Ireland. We wish Air Canada rouge every success with its new route and we look forward to working closely with them to promote the new service.”
Air Canada rouge Dublin-Toronto flight AC1909 will depart Dublin four times per week (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) at 12.10 and arrive in Toronto at 14.30. The return flight, AC1908, will depart Toronto four times per week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday) at 23.10 and arrive in Dublin at 10.40 the next day.
The Dublin-Toronto route will be operated by 280-seat wide-body Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. The newly designed aircraft interior features a two-cabin configuration with 24 Premium rouge seats offering additional legroom and enhanced meal and beverage service in the front cabin, and 256 rouge seats – including 35 rouge Plus seats with additional legroom – in the rear cabin.
