MONTREAL, Aug 14, 2006 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Air Canada today announced wide ranging improvements in scheduled services to many of its sun destinations in time for planning vacations this coming winter. Overall, the airline is increasing the number of seats between Canada and the sun destinations it serves by over 13 per cent, or almost 10,000 additional seats per week, compared to last winter.

In addition to offering more non-stop flights from cities across Canada, highlights of Air Canada's winter schedule include brand new non-stop service to Sarasota, Florida via Toronto. The new seasonal service is scheduled to commence November 4, 2006 using 93-seat Embraer E190 aircraft featuring two cabins of service and personal entertainment systems at each seatback.

"We're offering customers seeking warm, sunny destinations this winter unbeatable value and convenience with a choice of more than 600 non-stop flights per week to 49 sun destinations," said Ben Smith, Vice President, Network Planning. "In response to strategic growth opportunities in the winter leisure travel market made possible with the renewal of our North American fleet, we offer consumers coast to coast the most convenient scheduled services as well as the best value in package vacation options from Air Canada Vacations."

Air Canada offers a choice of Executive or Economy class service on all flights to sun destinations, Aeroplan member benefits, Maple leaf Lounge access for eligible customers, seamless connections to and from more than 60 domestic Canada destinations with thru-baggage check and advance boarding passes, online check-in up to 24 hours prior to departure as well as express check-in kiosks at airports to simplify the travel experience.

The following are select highlights of new Air Canada services on a round- trip basis to sun destinations this winter:

    Florida
    -------

    -  30 more non-stop flights per week this winter than last between Canada
       and Florida for a total of 366 weekly flights.
    -  Calgary - Fort Lauderdale: New non-stop service starting October 29,
       2006 with Sunday departures increasing to three times weekly service
       operated with 120-seat Airbus A319 aircraft.
    -  Calgary - Orlando: Increased to four weekly non-stop flights effective
       December 16, 2006, compared to twice weekly flights last winter.
    -  Toronto - Sarasota: New non-stop service starting November 4, 2006,
       increasing to daily flights effective December 16, operated with
       93-seat Embraer E190 aircraft.
    -  Toronto - Fort Myers: Increased to twice daily non-stop flights
       effective December 16, 2006, compared to one daily flight last winter.
    -  Toronto - Fort Lauderdale: Increased to four daily non-stop flights
       effective December 16, 2006, compared to three daily flights last
       winter.
    -  Toronto - West Palm Beach: Increased to twice daily non-stop flights
       effective December 16, 2006, compared to one daily flight last winter.
    -  Montreal - Fort Lauderdale: Increased to four daily non-stop flights
       effective December 16, 2006, compared to three daily flights last
       winter.

    California
    ----------

    -  27 more non-stop flights per week this winter than last between Canada
       and California for a total of 167 weekly flights.
    -  Edmonton - Los Angeles: New year-round daily non-stop service
       introduced May 1, 2006 operated with 75-seat Bombardier CRJ-705
       aircraft.
    -  Calgary - Los Angeles: Increased to three daily non-stop flights,
       compared to two daily flights last winter.
    -  Calgary - Palm Springs: New daily non-stop service starting
       December 15, 2006, operated with 75-seat Bombardier CRJ-705 aircraft.
    -  Toronto - San Diego: New daily non-stop service re-introduced
       July 1, 2006, operated with 120-seat Airbus A319 aircraft.
    -  Montreal - Los Angeles: Increased to 13 flights weekly, compared to
       7 flights per week last winter, operated with Airbus A319 aircraft.

    Las Vegas
    ---------

    -  11 more non-stop flights per week this winter than last between Canada
       and Las Vegas for a total of 55 weekly flights.
    -  Vancouver - Las Vegas: Increased to nine non-stop flights weekly
       operated with 120-seat Airbus A319 aircraft, compared to once daily
       last winter.
    -  Edmonton - Las Vegas: New twice weekly non-stop flights starting
       September 7, 2006, operated with 120-seat Airbus A319 aircraft.
    -  Winnipeg - Las Vegas: New twice weekly non-stop flights starting
       September 7, 2006, operated with 75-seat Bombardier CRJ-705 aircraft.
    -  Montreal - Las Vegas: Increased to twice daily non-stop flights,
       compared to nine weekly flights last winter.

    Mexico
    ------

    -  25 more non-stop flights per week this winter than last between Canada
       and Mexico for a total of 61 weekly flights.
    -  Edmonton - Cancun: New non-stop service departing Wednesdays starting
       December 20, 2006, operated with 207-seat Boeing 767 aircraft.
    -  Toronto - Mexico City: Increased to twice daily effective July 1, 2006
       compared to daily last winter, operated with 120-seat Airbus A319
       aircraft.
    -  Toronto - Cozumel: New non-stop service departing Fridays starting
       December 15, 2006, operated with 120-seat Airbus A319 aircraft.
    -  Toronto - Ixtapa: New non-stop service departing Saturdays starting
       December 16, 2006, operated with 120-seat Airbus A319 aircraft.
    -  Montreal - Cancun: Increased to daily non-stop service effective
       December 16, 2006 compared to twice weekly last winter, operated with
       120-seat Airbus A319 aircraft.
    -  Montreal - Mexico City: New year-round daily non-stop service
       introduced June 17, 2006, operated with 120-seat Airbus A319 aircraft.
    -  Halifax - Cozumel: New non-stop service departing Thursdays starting
       February 8, 2007, operated with 120-seat Airbus A319 aircraft.

    Caribbean
    ---------

    -  A total of 110 flights per week between Canada and the Caribbean
       including new services:
    -  Edmonton-Punta Cana DR: New non-stop service departing Thursdays
       starting December 21, 2006, operated with 207-seat
       Boeing 767.
    -  Halifax-Holguin, Cuba: New non-stop service departing Thursdays
       starting February 8, 2007, operated with 120-seat Airbus A319
       aircraft.

Air Canada operates the most flights of any carrier between Canada and sun destinations with up to 617 scheduled non-stop round-trip flights per week serving 49 destinations in Florida, Hawaii, California, Nevada, Arizona, the Caribbean, Mexico, Venezuela and Costa Rica including: Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Miami, Orlando, Sarasota, Tampa, West Palm Beach; Honolulu, Kona, Mauii; San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Palm Springs; Las Vegas, Phoenix; Antigua, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Grand Cayman, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Kingston, Montego Bay, Nassau, Puerto Plata, Punta Cana, St-Maarten, San Juan, St-Lucia, Trinidad, Turks & Caicos, Havana, Cayo Coco, Cayo Largo, Holguin, Varadero; Mexico City, Cancun, Cozumel, Ixtapa, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos; Caracas; San Jose and Liberia. In addition, Air Canada Vacations, one of Canada's leading tour operators, offers vacation packages including air transportation, hotel accommodation, car rentals and cruises, to more than 90 destinations.

Montreal-based Air Canada provides scheduled and charter air transportation for passengers and cargo to more than 150 destinations on five continents. Canada's flag carrier is the 14th largest commercial airline in the world and serves 30 million customers annually with a fleet consisting of 332 aircraft. Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance providing the world's most comprehensive air transportation network.

SOURCE AIR CANADA

Isabelle Arthur (Montreal), (514) 422-5788; Peter Fitzpatrick (Toronto), (416)
263-5576; Angela Mah (Vancouver), (604) 270-5741; Internet: aircanada.com

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