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Air Canada launches ‘abridged’ summer schedule

written by Sandy Milne | May 27, 2020

A file image of Air Canada Boeing 777-200LR C-FNNH. (Wikimedia Commons/Mark Harkin)
A file image of Air Canada Boeing 777-200LR C-FNNH. (Wikimedia Commons/Mark Harkin)

Air Canada has unveiled plans to launch an “abridged” summer schedule, which will see the carrier operate services to nearly 100 destinations worldwide.

The company says that it has shed nearly 95 per cent of its service over the course of the COVID-19 crisis, and has been left flying to less than half of previous destinations.

“We are […] gradually opening for sale flights for the summer and beyond as we rebuild our network, leveraging our strong position as a global airline. Air Canada is ready for take-off, and we look forward to welcoming our customers onboard,” said executive vice president and chief commercial officer Lucie Guillemette.

Over the course of the crisis, Air Canada has maintained service to several transit hubs across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. In June and July, however, it plans to expand this network to cover destinations including Geneva, Rome, Athens, Lisbon, and Frankfurt.

The airline plans to roll out a new refunds policy in a bid to “give customers greater confidence and flexibility.”

According to a statement released by the company, passengers looking to cancel or rebook flights will be able to exchange valid tickets for:

  • An Air Canada travel voucher for the remaining value of their ticket with no expiry date, or
  • Aeroplan Miles, with 65 per cent more value versus the normal rate for buying Miles.

The revised goodwill policy applies retroactively to all flights booked between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2020.

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Air Canada also says that it plans to support the summer schedule with stringent biosecurity measures.

“Finally, to further ensure the safety of our customers and employees, we have introduced Air Canada CleanCare+, a comprehensive biosecurity program to reduce the risk of the spread of COVID-19,” said Guillemette.

“Air Canada CleanCare+ works through multi-layered measures that limit unnecessary interactions, require the use of personal protective equipment and employ state-of-the-art cleaning techniques onboard our aircraft.”

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