Canada, Israel Expand Air Deal
Both Air Canada and Transat A.T are welcoming the Canadian government’s announcement of an expanded air transport agreement with Israel.
With the revised agreement Air Canada indicated it will look to further expand its services between Canada and Israel.
Benjamin Smith, president, passenger airlines at Air Canada, commented: “Air Canada welcomes the expansion of the Canada-Israel air transport agreement as it will allow us to enhance our network and further advance our successful international expansion strategy.”
Smith said: “We look forward to increasing our services to Tel Aviv, which currently comprise of daily non-stop service from Toronto and seasonal non-stop flights from Montreal. Air Canada is the only airline to offer fully-lie flat seats in International Business Class on flights between the two countries,”
Air Canada has operated flights between Canada and Israel since 1995. In addition to its non-stop Toronto-Tel Aviv year-round daily service, Air Canada launched seasonal, non-stop service between Montreal and Tel Aviv in June 2017 that resumes in May and which it is planning to increase to three-times weekly this summer from twice weekly last year.
As for Transat A.T., it applauded the increase in the number of weekly frequencies between the two countries from 12 to 19 weekly return flights.
Jean-Marc Eustache, president and chief executive officer of Transat, said: “This deal will open up new development and growth possibilities for Canadian-based international carriers such as Air Transat.”
Air Transat made its first foray into the Middle Eastern region in the summer of 2017 when it launched direct flights between Montreal and Tel Aviv. Building on that success, it will be offering three direct flights per week out of Montreal this summer, along with service from Toronto supported by connecting flights. The new program begins May 23.
Besides flights, Transat markets a full range of vacation packages to Israel, making the country a choice vacation destination for customers. If offers Canadians guided tours to fully explore the destination, packages including round-trip flight, accommodation, transfers, and selected meals, along with à la carte products for customized holidays.