Air Canada Adds New California and Seattle Routes in Initial Airbus A220 Plans
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
Air Canada is preparing to debut the first Airbus A220-300 in the Americas early next year, with plans for new routes to Seattle and Silicon Valley.
The Star Alliance carrier will first introduce the aircraft on existing routes from its Montreal (YUL) and Toronto (YYZ) hubs before launching the new markets next May, Air Canada said Wednesday. The company will take delivery of its first A220 before the end of 2019. Delta already flies the A220-100, but Air Canada will be the first in North America to fly the larger -300 variant.
Air Canada will add daily service to San Jose (SJC) in California from Toronto, and to Seattle Tacoma (SEA) from Montreal on May 4. Airline executives suggested both routes as possible new markets for the aircraft this past January.
What @AirCanada is considering. Enabled by #A220 range. #AirbusNATour pic.twitter.com/FFp1VT62e1
— AirInsight (@airinsight) January 14, 2019
“The A220 will further strengthen our position on transborder and transcontinental markets and be instrumental in our continued growth,” Mark Galardo, vice-president of network planning at Air Canada, said in a statement. “The two routes announced today are the first of many future possibilities as the A220 will allow us to further develop our North American network.”
Air Canada’s positioning to improve its transborder network comes as primary domestic competitor WestJet seeks a joint venture with Delta Air Lines. Such a pact would allow Delta and WestJet to act as essentially one carrier between Canada and the US, creating a more formidable competitor for Air Canada.
Related: Top Travel Rewards Credit Cards for Canadians
Prior to launching the new San Jose and Seattle routes, Air Canada plans to operate the A220 on existing routes to destinations including Calgary (YYC), Edmonton (YEG), New York LaGuardia (LGA), Ottawa (YOW) and Winnipeg (YWG).
Air Canada will outfit its A220-300s with 137 seats, including 12 business and 125 economy. Each seat will have personal in-flight entertainment, and the aircraft will be outfitted with satellite Wi-Fi.
Air Canada is the first to operate the stretched A220-300 in the Americas. Delta Air Lines debuted the A220-100 in February. AirBaltic was the global launch operator of the A220-300, then known as the Bombardier CS300, in 2016.
Related: Review of Delta’s Airbus A220-100 in First Class From Dallas to New York
The Canadian airline expects just one A220-300 delivery this year, followed by 14 in 2020, its latest fleet plan shows. It has orders for 45 aircraft, which will replace its fleet of Embraer 190s.
Featured image courtesy of Air Canada.
Sign-up Successful!
Welcome to The Points Guy!
WELCOME OFFER: 60,000 Points
TPG'S BONUS VALUATION*: $1,200
CARD HIGHLIGHTS: 2X points on all travel and dining, points transferrable to over a dozen travel partners
*Bonus value is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not the card issuer. View our latest valuations here.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Plus earn up to $50 in statement credits towards grocery store purchases.
- 2X points on dining at restaurants including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out and travel & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories.
- Get unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on eligible orders over $12 for a minimum of one year with DashPass, DoorDash's subscription service. Activate by 12/31/21.
- Earn 2x total points on up to $1,000 in grocery store purchases per month from November 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021. Includes eligible pick-up and delivery services.
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.