Air Canada has announced that it will introduce daily non-stop seasonal service between St. John's and London Heathrow, U.K. providing the opportunity to connect onward throughout Europe with its Star Alliance partner carriers. Air Canada will operate the only daily non-stop service between Newfoundland and Labrador and London Heathrow between May 27th, 2010 and September 26th, 2010.
"For the past several months we have worked closely with the local community and the Airport Authority to offer travellers in Newfoundland and Labrador the convenience of the only daily non-stop service to London Heathrow in time for the peak summer travel season," said Nick Careen, Vice President, Airports, Air Canada in St. John's. "With this improved schedule, we believe our customers in Newfoundland and Labrador will value this direct link to the U.K., as the fastest and most efficient way of making connections to several European capitals such as Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen, Vienna, Moscow, as well as Dubai. We hope the support for this route will enable us to operate it again next year and even extend it year-round. Air Canada is proud to serve Newfoundland and Labrador with safe and reliable air transportation since 1942, and we are committed to look ahead for new opportunities with the support of our customers."
"After months of working with Air Canada, we're very encouraged by Air Canada's confidence in the St. John's market and their decision to offer a daily direct flight between St. John's and London Heathrow," said Keith Collins, President and CEO of the St. John's International Airport Authority. "Our community has strongly expressed their need and their desire for Air Canada to reestablish this important link to Europe and we're delighted that they've decided to begin the service at a time when travel between St. John's and Europe is anticipated to increase due to the development of the Hebron project."
"I am very pleased that Air Canada has recognized the value of reinstating this air connection to Europe," stated St. John's Mayor Dennis O'Keefe. "There is a real confidence in the St. John's and provincial economy over the past few years. With the impending major resource developments, expansion of ocean technology and the growth of St. John's as a host for international conferences, I anticipate there will be significant take up in this service."
Air Canada flight AC822 will leave St. John's at 21:55, arriving in London at 06:25, and flight AC823 will leave London at 12:35 arriving in St. John's at 14:35.
At London Heathrow Air Canada offers connections to points throughout Europe with its Star Alliance partners: SAS Scandinavian Airlines to Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Oslo; bmi British Midland to Glasgow, Dublin, Aberdeen and Manchester; and Austrian Airlines to Vienna. In St. John's Air Canada's flights are timed to offer connections to and from Deer Lake, Halifax, Montréal and Toronto.
The carrier will operate the route using 120-seat Airbus A319 aircraft in a two-cabin configuration offering a choice of Executive Class and Economy service.
