Starting today, Canada is closer to Rio de Janeiro. Air Canada launched its operations at RIOgaleão - Tom Jobim International Airport, with the first aircraft landing at 2pm in Rio. The inaugural flight 'Rio de Janeiro-Toronto' came in fully loaded. The airport´s concessionaire baptized the aircraft with its new fleet of firefighting trucks, forming an arch with water jets.
"Rio de Janeiro is a very important market and we are excited to be able to cater to the region with this new flight, which will be operated three times a week. In addition to Rio de Janeiro, we believe that this route is an excellent connection to other destinations such as Belo Horizonte and Brasilia, for example,” said Ranieri Gleyson, Commercial Director of Air Canada in Brazil.
The new flight was scheduled to provide connections at convenient times with Air Canada´s network, a Star Alliance member, from the company's hub at Pearson International Airport in Toronto, including Tokyo-Haneda, Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai. All flights will offer International Business Class, with seats that recline 180 degrees, and entertainment systems in every seat of the aircraft. In Toronto, selected customers will have access to the International Maple Leaf Lounge, as well as to concierge services. The aircraft that will serve the route is the Boeing 767-300ER, with 24 seats in International Business Class and 187 in Economy Class.
The arrival of Air Canada in Rio de Janeiro shows the city's potential to attract tourism and business. RIOgaleão´s priorities include increasing the frequency of flights to Florida, United Kingdom, and to countries that comprise the Mercosur, considering that surveys indicate high demand for these destinations. Since taking over the airport administration, RIOgaleãohas brought three new international destinations - Mexico City, Toronto, and Cordoba, and domestic routes now include Ilheus (BA), Campina Grande (PB) and Field of Goytacazes (RJ). In addition, there has been an increase in the frequency of flights to Salvador (BA), Foz do Iguaçu (PR), João Pessoa (PB), and Congonhas Airport (SP).
"We are bringing back important routes to Rio de Janeiro. The airport has an excellent domestic network that easily integrates the North and Northeast regions to the South of the country, allowing connection with 27 international destinations in North America, Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East," said Randall Aguero, Director of Strategic Development at RIOgaleão.
"Celebrated for its tourist attractions such as the Sugar Loaf and the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, the city of Rio de Janeiro is also a vibrant cultural center and business district, with the headquarters of major global corporations. It also hosts international events such as Carnaval and the Olympics and Paralympics of 2016,"said Benjamin Smith, Air Canada´s Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. He said the flight will complement the Toronto-São Paulo route, allowing Air Canada to meets two destinations in Brazil, one of the largest and most vibrant economies in the world. "The route will also strengthen our position as the only airline to fly nonstop between Canada and South America.
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