Air Canada rouge to Launch Dublin Flights

Air Canada's current seasonal service between Toronto and Dublin, Ireland will be converted to year-round service operated by its new leisure carrier, Air Canada rouge, beginning in 2014.

Air Canada will operate the route this year from 17 May through to 30 September 2013 and Air Canada rouge will commence year-round service starting 1 May 2014. Bookings on the new Air Canada rouge service will become available in June 2013.

"Air Canada has been serving Ireland since its predecessor, Trans-Canada Air Lines, first flew to Shannon in 1947. Today, there is a very strong market for both leisure customers and visiting friends and relatives, so this is an ideal market for our new leisure carrier, Air Canada rouge, to operate more cost effectively on a year-round basis," said Ben Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Air Canada. "This is the fourth European destination announced for Air Canada rouge, which will begin flying this July to Edinburgh, Venice and Athens in addition to a number of Caribbean destinations. We intend to grow Air Canada rouge quickly from four aircraft to 32 aircraft by the end of 2014 and 42 aircraft by the end of 2015."

Air Canada rouge's 1 July launch network also includes eleven destinations in the Caribbean.

Its startup fleet consists of two Airbus A319 aircraft and two Boeing 767-300ER aircraft that will grow to ten aircraft by the end of 2013, 32 aircraft by the end of 2014 and 42 aircraft by the end of 2015.

Air Canada rouge's Boeing 767-300ER aircraft feature a two-cabin configuration with three customer options including rouge, rouge Plus with preferred seating with additional legroom, and, beginning in winter 2013, Premium rouge offering both additional room and enhanced service. The airline's Airbus A319 aircraft are configured with rouge and rouge Plus preferred seating. All flights will offer customers streamed wireless inflight entertainment.