check inWinter 2014/15

Fly our dream jet

Meet the Boeing 787 Dreamliner

DESTINATION:Visit Vancouver and Whistler

CANADA’S WINTER FESTIVALS

NEWSWELCOME

INSIDE

Winter 2014/15 0302 Winter 2014/15

3 NEWS>> Promoting new

routes and services

6 FLEET>>

Meet the Boeing 787 Dreamliner

12 ATTRACTIONSWinter festivals

9 DESTINATION>>

Vancouver & Whistler

8 NETWORKInternational

routes

14COMPETITION>>

Win tickets to Toronto

16 SCHEDULE

Air Canada flights and connections

Check In is designed and produced for Air Canada by Johnston Associates ( johnstonassociates.org) and izio design (iziodesign.co.uk).

Cover Image: Photo © Air Canada

Summer 2014 has been exceptional for Air Canada at London Heathrow with the move to the new Terminal 2.

We’ve received positive comments from customers and staff, many of whom consider it a superior terminal. With our Star Alliance partners, we can now offer under-one-roof transfers between Star Alliance flights and a better overall travel experience.

Following a summer with a new service on Air Canada rouge to Toronto from Manchester and increased capacity from Edinburgh, the Dublin service is now year-round with three weekly flights to Toronto this winter. We are also featuring new year-round flights from London to St. John’s, with three a week this winter.

Our international services through our Canadian hubs – particularly Toronto – continue to thrive with great connections to a range of destinations, including Buenos Aires starting in December. The new Boeing 787 Dreamliner enters regular service from 26 October between London and Toronto. This promises a far superior in-flight experience and less jet lag – see what’s special about flying the Dreamliner on pages 6-7.

Finally, this edition of Check In has a round-up of some of Canada’s top winter festivals to lure you to new destinations with Air Canada; a feature on Vancouver and Whistler and a competition to win flights to Toronto.

I hope we will see you on Air Canada this winter.

Robert AtkinsonGeneral Manager UK, Ireland and Northern Europe, Air Canada

Air Canada opened its new state-of-the-art Maple Leaf Lounge in June at the airline’s new home – Terminal 2, The Queen’s Terminal, at London Heathrow. The lounge measures 700 square metres with large windows overlooking the airfield. It includes high-tech equipment such as a live cooking station, tended bar, spa-like shower area and ‘quiet zone’ with TV equipped relaxation pods.

Pictured at the opening are from left to right: Gordon Campbell, High Commissioner for Canada; Craig Landry, Vice President Marketing, Air Canada; Chris Garton, Managing Director International Operations, Air Canada; Robert Atkinson, General Manager UK, Ireland and Northern Europe, Air Canada; John Holland-Kaye, Development Director and Chief Executive Officer designate, Heathrow; Duncan Bureau, Vice President Global Sales, Air Canada.

LONDON’S NEW DREAM LOUNGE OPENS

Route News: Buenos AiresAir Canada offers exceptionally smooth connections to Buenos Aires five days a week this winter making the airline a great choice for travel to Argentina, with prices from London Heathrow starting from under £850 including taxes.

Fly from Heathrow’s new Terminal 2, through Air Canada’s hub in Toronto on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday with return flights on Monday,

Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The flight is direct with an hour’s stop each way in Santiago. AC859 departs London at 1800 and arrives in Toronto at 2115; AC092 departs Toronto at 2345 and arrives in Buenos Aires at 1530 the next day.

The return flight AC093 departs Buenos Aires at 1730, arrives Toronto at 0545 the next day and AC868 departs Toronto at 0815 arriving in London at 2030.

> The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that Calin Rovinescu, President and CEO of Air Canada, has assumed his duties as Chairman of the IATA Board of Governors for a one-year term.

Puente de la Mujer (Spanish for “Women’s Bridge”) in Buenos Aires

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ST. JOHN’S Air Canada is proud to announce that from 26 October 2014 the airline will extend the non-stop flights from London Heathrow to St. John’s, on the east coast of Canada. These flights will now change from summer only flights to three times a week, all year round. Fares start from £674.66 including taxes.

DUBLIN This winter, Air Canada rouge now offers a year-round non-stop service from Dublin to Toronto with three weekly flights from the Irish capital to its Toronto hub, Toronto Pearson International Airport. Fares start from €400.20 including taxes.

Air Canada recently hosted an educational trip for UK tour operators to visit British Columbia and experience the new Boeing 777 services on the route. Liz Langan, Key Account Manager, Leisure Sales at Air Canada escorted the group and they visited Sewells Marina on Horseshoe Bay in the spectacular Howe and went out on a zodiac Sea Safari, viewing wildlife including birds and seals.

Pictured on the front row from left to right: Suzanne Alder, Assistant Reservations Supervisor, 1st Class Holidays; Michelle Tonge, Travel Sales

Consultant, North America Travel Service; Elizabeth Langan, Key Account Manager, Air Canada; Jane Fraser, Travel Trade Coordinator, Destination British Colombia; Kelly Morshead, Campaign Manager, Expedia; Christopher Roberts, Gold Personal Travel Counsellor, Travel Counsellors; Omkar Satti, Senior Specialist Product Consultant, Hayes and Jarvis. Top row left to right: Eleanor Angus, Sales Consultant, Travelbag; Lorraine Beal, Senior Consultant, Gold Medal Travel; Cara Martin, Supervisor, Premier Holidays. Joint Venture educational trip

As part of the Atlantic Joint Venture with United, we organised a four day educational trip for Hillgate Travel to Toronto and Chicago in

June. The group stayed at the Four Seasons hotel in downtown Toronto

and spent the day at Niagara Falls, enjoyed a helicopter tour of the Falls

as well as a short visit to Niagara on the Lake. The group experienced

International Business Class on AC857 to Toronto, onboard a

Boeing 777 and was the first Joint Venture educational trip to go

through the new Heathrow Terminal 2 and its new Maple Leaf Lounge.

Left to right: Rebecca Hayiannis, Account Manager Business Travel Sales, Air Canada; Wendy Smith, Senior Account Executive, Hillgate Travel; Adrian Singer, Key Account Manager, Hillgate Travel; Michelle Harrison,

Account Executive, Hillgate Travel; Vicki Young, Account Executive, Hillgate Travel; John Vlacos, Account Executive, Hillgate Travel; Chuma Ngenda, Account Executive, Hillgate Travel.

This summer, Air Canada ran a trade booking incentive promoting the new Manchester – Toronto Air Canada rouge service. Several prizes were awarded with first prize winner Roy Copeland, Dial A Flight, who won two economy class Air Canada rouge tickets to Toronto, $250 CAD, five nights hotel accommodation in a Fairmont Luxury Room at the iconic Fairmont Royal York, plus a selection of gift cards courtesy of Toronto Premium Outlets. The runner-up prize was awarded to STA Travel and pictured here are (left to right): Edna

On 27 June, Air Canada rouge celebrated launching its first inaugural flight from Manchester to Toronto.

Air Canada rouge’s new five weekly flights proved very popular and ran between 27 June and 13 September.

Air Canada named North America’s Best Airline for the fifth consecutive yearAir Canada has been voted the Best Airline in North America in the Skytrax 2014 World Airline Awards at the Farnborough International Airshow. It is the fifth consecutive year Air Canada has been recognised among the leading carriers of the world. The annual poll is based on the response of nearly 19 million global passengers. This is regarded as the benchmark for product excellence and customer satisfaction by the global airline industry.

NEWS

NON-STOP ACTION

WINNING PROMOTIONWITH AIR CANADA

Tour operators’ trip to British Columbia

St. John’s

Five year-old passenger, Eirin Thomas flew back to her hometown Toronto on the Air Canada rouge flight.

Samuel Beckett Bridge, Dublin

Pictured from left to right: Kevin Rogers, Area Sales Manager, Air Canada; Andrew Harrison, Managing Director, Manchester Airport; Renee Smith-Valade, Vice President Customer Experience, Air Canada rouge; and Robert Atkinson, General Manager UK, Ireland and Northern Europe, Air Canada.

Manchester to Toronto: Air Canada rouge takes off

Hischer Travel Trade Representative from Europe Premium Outlets awards a Samsonite Elevation III 29’ Spinner soft-sided suitcase prize to Ewan Clark, Store Manager STA Travel (collecting on behalf of prize winner, Helen Thorne) with Kevin Rogers, Area Sales Manager Northern England & Scotland, Air Canada.

FLEET

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Air Canada brings the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner into service on 26 October 2014 with flights between London

Heathrow and Toronto.This revolutionary aircraft,

known for its smooth aerodynamics mirrored by its elegant lines and swish, spacious flight deck is more comfortable and has greater fuel economy than most other aircraft.

Every aspect of the plane has been improved to create a more enjoyable and relaxing flight. Eight foot vaulted ceilings increase the amount of headroom and also allow

for larger overhead lockers. Each seat in Premium Economy has a generous 38-inch legroom and 7-inch chair recline, making your space a little more personal.

The inflight entertainment has been finely tuned with 11-inch enhanced definition intuitive touch screen TVs, universal power ports and USB outlets to entertain you.

30 per cent bigger windows allow you to see out of the window no matter where you are sitting, and to bask in more natural light. Fingertip dimming systems put you in control.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner flies

Top: Air Canada’s new International Business Class cabin on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.Below: The new Premium Economy cabin

This winter, fly our

DREAM JET 2,000 feet below other aircraft, which improves oxygen absorption, and helps prevent headaches, dizziness and jet lag on long haul flights. To help your body adjust to different time zones Air Canada installed full spectrum LED lights – another jet lag reducing measure.

Air Canada has also improved the air quality, filtering fresh air into the cabin.

Most importantly, the plane is more streamlined. The design of the aircraft’s wings gives them a slight curve, which gives a much quieter and smoother flight.

Everything melds together to give you a really superior experience, whether you are travelling in Economy, Premium Economy or International Business Class which, of course, features privacy and our trademark luxurious lie-flat beds.

Be amongst the first to experience Air Canada’s Dreamliner this winter.

Winter 2014/15 09

NETWORK

08 Winter 2014/15

DESTINATION

Destination

VANCOUVERAir Canada flies you daily non-stop to Vancouver in style with a choice of

Economy, Premium Economy or International Business Class, and on arrival, you’ll find a modern city with snow covered mountains around, settled by the

water with views of both from nearly every elevated window in the city. This is a business city, a leisure city, a place to eat, drink and play. And just

two hours away, North America’s biggest winter playground, Whistler, attracts skiers and boarders from all over the world. >>>

& WHISTLER

DESTINATION

10 Winter 2014/15 Winter 2014/15 11

The drive from Vancouver to Whistler takes two hours on one of the most beautiful roads in North America, the Sea to Sky highway – a freeway that hugs the coastline throwing you seascape vistas reminiscent of

the famous Norwegian fjords. Helicopter transfers and shuttle buses are available for those who prefer not to self-drive.

Whistler is world famous. The biggest ski area in North America, it has two mountains – Whistler and Blackcomb – with 8,100 acres of skiing and over 200 runs. At the base is a large village full of great hotels for a range of budgets, a big car-free zone dominates and the shops, restaurants and bars are as world-class as the skiing.

But most just come for the snow. Over 11 metres of snow falls on the mountains each winter and its 37 high speed lifts open up huge ski areas where anyone can ski; with or without a guide, on or off piste. Choose one of the pisted runs down to lifts, or head off on a snow bowl adventure to

Things to do inVancouver in winterCapilano Suspension Bridge Park Walk across the suspension bridge which stretches 137 metres (450 ft) across a canyon and at a height of 70 metres (230 ft), and then enjoy a fun treetop adventure in the park. capbridge.com

Grouse MountainJust 15 minutes from downtown, go skiing, snowshoeing or skating at Grouse Mountain. A ride on The Skyride – a gondola that climbs to 1,100 metres (3,700 feet) in just eight minutes – gives great views of neigh-bouring peaks, the Pacific Ocean, inlets and bays, and the Gulf Islands.

Vancouver Art Gallery Located in a stunning, turn-of-the-century heritage building in the heart of downtown Vancouver, the gallery showcases four floors of inspirational art pleasures. This year’s winter highlights include The Forbidden City: Inside the Court of China's Emperors (18 October – 11 January) and Emily Carr & Landon Mackenzie: Wood Chopper and the Monkey (to 6 April 2015). vanartgallery.bc.ca

Eating outThe Farmer’s Apprentice is rated one of the best new restaurants of 2014 by local media.farmersapprentice.caHawksworth gets the prize for the best upscale restaurant. hawksworthrestaurant.comOr for a casual Italian head to Campagnolo Roma.campagnoloroma.com

enjoy fresh, un-pisted skiing. The keen and competent can scoot down a double black diamond mogul alleyway with its danger warning signs to remind you it’s only for the seriously experienced. But fear not, as the resort is loaded with easy peasy green and blue runs for those whose priority is safety not bravery.

The longest run on Whistler Mountain is seven miles and Blackcomb has a comparably long run. Each has snow parks for boarders and skiers to test out their acrobatic and balancing skills, and mountain restaurants serve everything from the obligatory burgers to delicious sushi.

For any skier wanting to head out to Canada’s west – this is the place to ski and it won’t disappoint!

SN WBIZWith 8,100 acres of skiing and over 200 runs, heaven awaits skiers and boarders in Whistler

THAT’S

Top Tip for après-ski

Check out the Rim Rock café– it’s just less than three miles from Whistler village but

well worth the cab fare or drive. This casual bistro/

restaurant is hugely popular so book early

and enjoy delicious fish dishes and local game.

rimrockcafe.com

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Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort at a glanceAverage snowfall per year:

11.74 m (38.5 ft)

Highest lift accessed elevation:2,284 m (7,494 ft)

Number of lifts:37

Hourly lift capacity:67,307

Skier visits per year (approx.):2.3 million

Mountain restaurants:17 with a total of 6,540 seats

Winter

FESTIVALS

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ATTRACTIONS

Canada is a beautiful destination with many exhilarating attractions and things to do. Here are our Top 10 festivals for a bit of fun this winter...

6 Québec Winter Carnival30 January - 15 February 2015For over 50 years, the biggest

winter carnival in the world has been celebrating the magic of winter. Don’t miss the unique ice canoe race across the St. Lawrence River where competitiors climb over ice floes carrying the canoes then paddle the river between.carnaval.qc.ca

7 Winter Festival of Lights15 November 2014 - 12 January 2015

The Winter Festival of Lights is held every year in Niagara Falls. Every evening it turns the falls area, the nearby parks, and the streets of the town Niagara Falls into a magical fiesta. Three million bulbs light the falls area and run along the river for six kilometres. The festival hosts more than a million visitors every

3 Ice on Whyte Ice Carving Festival. 23 January - 1 February 2015 The International Ice Carving Competition celebrates its 12th year and kicks off as ten teams of artists from around the world create

amazing carvings that are on show for the duration of the festival. Enjoy outdoor play on the giant ice slide and in the interactive kids’ zone. The evenings are filled with live music presented by Alberta musicians. iceonwhyte.ca

1 Yukon Quest7 February 2015Experience the thrill of the

world’s greatest sled dog race when mushers and their dog teams traverse the frozen wilderness between Whitehorse, Yukon and Fairbanks, Alaska. Spectators travel from around the world to witness the event live, while thousands follow the race online. The 1,000 mile trail follows historical gold rush and mail delivery routes, but weather and trail conditions provide a fresh challenge for mushers and their dogs every year.yukonquest.com

2 Festival du Voyageur13 - 22 February 2015This annual festival celebrates

Winnipeg’s early fur trading and Métis roots with a non-stop party in the heart of Manitoba’s winter. Spot the massive snow sculptures around town and at Festival Park in St. Boniface, Winnipeg’s French Quarter and base camp for the festival. Sample Métis food like tourtiere, bannock and pea soup. Practice your jig at nightly live-music concerts held at the park and at venues around the city.festivalvoyageur.mb.ca

4 The Ice Wine Festival9 - 25 January 2015Ontario ice wine is one of

the most cherished products and celebrated for three weekends in January in the Niagara region. Now in its 20th year, the festival offers plenty for every taste, from elegant gala evenings to irresistible wine and food pairings and outdoor activities, from exploring Ice Street Villages to marshmallow roasting along the famed wine route.niagarawinefestival.com

5Montréal en Lumière 16 February - 1 March 2015This international event involves

Montréal’s main theatres, orchestras, dance troupes and museums as well as the city’s restaurants and hotels. Heat up the winter with the best Montréal has to offer. Venues also play host to renowned artists, lighting designers and world-class chefs. montrealenlumiere.com

year from all over the world. Guests can also enjoy ice skating, fireworks, holiday illuminations, Christmas shows and concerts performed by leading artists. carnifest.com

8Vancouver Christmas Market22 November -

24 December 2014Stroll through the festive outdoor Christmas

village and explore rows of illuminated

huts offering handmade gifts and tempting treats. As day becomes night,

thousands of Christmas lights sparkle and the delicious

aromas of mulled wine and spicy gingerbread waft through the air.vancouverchristmasmarket.com

9 Fredericton Frostival24 January - 16 February 2015Grab your hat and mittens

and get ready for the perfect winter celebration. Major festivals, outdoor family fun, sporting events, theatre performances, cultural experiences, fine craft and art workshops, culinary delights and the list goes on with more than 80 events!frostival.ca

10Mahone Bay Father Christmas Festival29 November - 7 December

2014Experience the enchantment of the season with over 90 life-size, hand crafted, Father Christmas figures throughout town and it’s all free!novascotia.com

COMPETITION

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5 THINGSTO DO IN TORONTO

1Casa LomaExperience the elegance and splendour of the Edwardian era

at Casa Loma, the only landmark castle in North America and Toronto’s premier historic attraction. Tour through secret passages and tunnels; visit the stables with an exhibition of vintage cars from the 1900s and take in a spectacular city view from the unique towers. casaloma.org

3Nathan Phillip Square This captivating setting is enjoyed all year long by people of all ages.

Many seasonal activities are planned throughout the year and in the winter the water fountain turns into an out-door ice rink. Take in the downtown sites while skating or enjoy a quick

bite beside the rink at Hero Certified Burgers. Stroll around the Eaton Centre Shopping Centre, visit City Hall, walk Yonge Street or check out nearby Dundas Square. This hot spot is a great place to add to your must-see list. toronto.com

With beautiful landscapes, outstanding landmarks and welcoming residents, you are completely spoilt for choice when it comes to things to do in Toronto, so here is our pick of the Top 5 attractions this winter

Make sure you book your flights with Air Canada - check out our fares, offers and great services at aircanada.com

4Toronto ZooCanada’s premier zoo is open year-round and with over 5,000

animals representing more than 450 species in over 700 acres. Explore the

new Giant Panda Experience, the Gorilla Rainforest, the Great Barrier Reef and Eurasia Wilds. Come face to face with the only two giant pandas in Canada and learn how the zoo is

working to protect them and other endangered species. torontozoo.com

2Toronto Christmas MarketThis winter, Toronto will once again celebrate the magic of

Christmas at the Lowe’s Toronto Christmas Market. Inspired by the old world and influenced by the new, this free event captures all of the tradition and charm of a European Christmas market, while showcasing hundreds of unique and local handcrafted products. torontochristmasmarket.com

Casa Loma Toronto Christmas Market

WIN A TRIP FOR TWO TO TORONTOAir Canada is offering you the opportunity to win our competition prize of two economy flights from Heathrow to Toronto. All you need to do is answer the question below and email your answer to checkin@aircanada.ca. All correct answers will be entered into a draw to select the winning entry.

Q: TORONTO IS THE CAPITAL CITY OF WHICH PROVINCE?

CONGRATULATIONSCheryl Walsh, Air Fare Bureau Manager at HRG in Manchester, is the winner of the summer 2014 Check In competition. Cheryl won tickets to enjoy summer in the city of Toronto.

5The CN TowerA wonder of the modern world, the CN Tower is Canada’s most

celebrated architectural triumph offering Toronto’s most spectacular views – day or night. This must-see is a world-class entertainment and dining destination. Explore two observation levels up to 346m (1,136 ft), the world famous Glass Floor at 342m (1,122 ft) with outdoor Sky Terrace, and access to attractions such as the CN Tower story in the Height of Excellence film, and the new film The Red Rocket: Toronto by Trolley.cntower.ca

SCHEDULE

WINTER SCHEDULE 2014Air Canada offers more daily flights from the UK to Canada than any other airline, with up to 63 non-stop flights per week to seven major Canadian cities scheduled from London Heathrow (LHR) this winter.

CALGARY (YYC) DEP ARR FREQUENCY

AC851 1330 1550 daily

HALIFAX (YHZ) AC861 1105 1350 Tu,We,Fr,Su

MONTRÉAL (YUL) AC865 1300 1525 daily

OTTAWA (YOW) AC889 1205 1445 daily

ST. JOHN’S (YYT) AC823 1105 1305 Mo,Th,Sa

TORONTO (YYZ) AC869 0900 1210 dailyAC857 1200 1450 dailyAC849 1500 1750 dailyAC859 1800 2115 daily

VANCOUVER (YVR) AC855 1425 1605 daily

Air Canada also flies non-stop to Toronto from Denmark year-round:COPENHAGEN (CPH) – TORONTO (YYZ) AC883 1215 1430 We,Fr,Su

AIR CANADA ROUGEAir Canada rouge offers non-stop services from Dublin to Toronto year round.DUBLIN (DUB) - TORONTO (YYZ) AC1909 1015 1245 We,Fr,Su

WINTER SCHEDULETORONTO CONNECTIONS 2014Travelling to the States has been made easier when trans-iting Terminal 1 in Toronto and Montréal. Customers are no longer required to pick up their bags during the transit process via Toronto or Montréal. In addition to making the transfer process more seamless, passengers also pre-clear US Customs and Immigration in Toronto Pearson Airport and Montréal Trudeau.

Here are some examples of connections over Toronto:

AC869 | LHR 0900 | YYZ 1210

Connections to US points: FLIGHT DEP ARRCleveland AC7901 1435 1545Dallas Fort Worth AC7485 1350 1620Columbus AC7897 1420 1557Charlotte AC7922 1600 1755

AC857 | LHR 1200 | YYZ 1450 Connections to US points: FLIGHT DEP ARRSt Louis AC7987 1655 1806Detroit AC7308 1655 1820Cincinatti AC7325 1650 1824Atlanta AC8627 1650 1904

Montréal connections:

AC865 | LHR 1300 | YUL 1525

Connections to US points: FLIGHT DEP ARRMiami AC930 1650 2050Boston AC7686 1725 1850Orlando AC1872 1710 2056Washington (DCA) AC7654 1910 2100

As well as numerous connections across Canada and the US, we also offer connections to South America.

AC859 | LHR 1800 | YYZ 2115

Connections to Latin America: FLIGHT DEP ARRBuenos Aires, Argentina AC092 2345 1530*Sao Paulo, Brazil AC090 2250 1150*Santiago, Chile AC092 2245 1205*

Air Canada is launching a new, non-stop service between Toronto and Rio de Janeiro, year-round operating three times a week commencing 11 December 2014 and will connect with:

AC859 | LHR 1800 | YYZ 2100

Connections to Brazil: FLIGHT DEP ARRRio de Janeiro AC098 2255 1225*

Air Canada schedule subject to change.