Edmonton Airports Applauds AirBC-Air Canada-United Airlines Service

Edmonton, AB – AirBC, Air Canada’s regional airline flies non-stop from Edmonton to Denver today, offering the first transborder flight by a Canadian flag carrier from the capital city of Alberta since Open Skies. In promoting this route, AirBC is offering double bonus miles with Aeroplan and United Airlines’ Mileage Plus frequent flyer programs until December 4, 1998.

Air Canada’s Star Alliance partner, United Airlines, will sell seats on this new route on a codeshare basis.

“With the launch of the only non-stop flight to Denver, AirBC/Air Canada and United Airlines now offer Edmontonians a great way of travelling to the US, especially with the number of connections to other US destinations available with United from its Denver hub,” said Al Thompson, President and CEO, AirBC. “We are optimistic about the potential of this new flight, linking two resource-based cities in only three hours.”

“This is a breakthrough flight for Edmonton,” said Scott Clements, President and CEO of Edmonton Airports. “As the first Canadian carrier to offer non-stop service to the US since Open Skies, this AirBC flight offers a whole new set of options to Edmonton travellers, and opens a whole new set of doors for attracting business, conventions and tourism to northern Alberta.”

Flight AC 1981 departs Edmonton at 09:30 each day, arriving in Denver at 12:30, where connections to more than 50 cities can be made. Flight 1986 departs Denver at 13:15, arriving into Edmonton at 16:15. All flights between Edmonton and Denver are operated on AirBC’s British Aerospace 146 jet, configured with eight (8) in Executive Class, and 68 in Hospitality Class.

As a non-stop flight across a national border, this flight becomes part of Edmonton Airports’ Fly Edmonton First campaign. When Edmontonians choose non-stop services that cross a national border, they signal their preference for faster, hassle-free travel to the US, which makes it easier to attract and sustain those services in the future. Travellers will also utilize the US preclearance facility in Edmonton, which makes their connections quicker and easier when they arrive in the US.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Angela Mah, AirBC: (604) 244-2648