HERE COMES SUMMER: Air Canada announces its summer schedule 

Air Canada has unveiled its planned Summer 2022 international schedule for Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and India. In addition to its established year-round services, the airline announced its return to key summer seasonal destinations such as Barcelona, Venice, Nice, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Reykjavik.

Seasonal services to Athens, Rome and Lisbon resumed in 2021 and will return next spring, alongside Air Canada’s recently launched service to Cairo.

Earlier this week the airline also announced strategic expansion of its India services, with additional flights from Toronto, and a new year-round, non-stop route between Montreal and Delhi starting Oct. 31.

Year-round destinations in 2022 will include Amsterdam (December 2021), Brussels, Casablanca, Copenhagen (May 2022), Doha, Dubai, Dublin, Frankfurt, Geneva, London, Lyon (December 2021), Madrid (April 2022), Milan (May 2022), Munich, Delhi, Paris, Tel Aviv, Vienna, and Zurich.

Seasonal routes will include, in March, Barcelona, Lisbon, Rome; April – Athens, Venice; May – Cairo, Nice; June – Edinburgh, Manchester, and Reykjavik.

South America

Meanwhile, the airline also announced an increase in service to several key South American destinations this winter. Service to São Paulo, Brazil will resume from Montreal on Dec. 8 with four flights per week on a year-round basis, while service from Toronto to Brazil’s financial centre will increase to daily flights as of Dec. 6. São Paulo will be served by Air Canada’s flagship Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Service from Montreal to Bogotá, Colombia is set to resume on Dec. 2 with three weekly flights, while flights from Toronto to Bogotá will increase to four per week as of Nov. 7, all operated on an Airbus A330-300. Flights to Bogotá will allow customers to easily connect onward throughout Colombia and other South American destinations via Star Alliance partner Avianca.

Air Canada says it remains committed to serving Buenos Aires, Argentina, with flights offered to either Toronto or Montreal via São Paulo pending government approval. Argentina has announced plans to reopen to international tourists as of Nov. 1.

Another key South American destination will rejoin Air Canada’s network in January 2022 with the resumption of service between Toronto and Santiago, Chile, with three weekly flights.

“As we continue to rebuild our global network, Air Canada is excited to plan its return to these popular leisure destinations… (enabling) its customers to explore the world again,” says Air Canada Sr. VP. Mark Galardo, who adds that the schedule will allow for convenient onward travel through Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and Calgary hubs.

Additional service resumptions or expansions will be announced in the future, says the airline, and schedules may be adjusted as required based on the COVID-19 trajectory and government restrictions. Air Canada’s new refund policy is also applicable to all tickets purchased, offering customers the option of a full refund to the original form of payment, an Air Canada Travel Voucher, or the equivalent value in Aeroplan Points with a 65% bonus should the airline cancel or reschedule a flight by more than three hours.