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Air Canada Voted Top Honours for In-Flight Service and International 

Travel by Business Traveler Magazine 

Air Canada tops second international passenger survey released in December 

MONTREAL, Dec. 13, 2011 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada has won two top honours in Business Traveler's "Best 

in Business Travel" award program, winning awards for the North American carrier with the best in-flight 

service and the best for international travel. 

"Air Canada is very pleased to be recognized by the readers of Business Traveler magazine because these 

are the travelers who fly most frequently and have the widest experience of different airlines to draw upon 

in making judgments. It is especially meaningful to win awards for in-flight services and for our international 

travel experience because that has been a primary focus at Air Canada, which is building upon its 

international reputation and developing its main Toronto hub as a convenient international connection point. 

These awards show our customers appreciate the amenities we offer, such as our lie-flat suites in our 

Executive First international service and the seatback video available throughout our fleet at every seat. 

Most importantly, these awards also honour the hard work of Air Canada's 26,000 employees, who are the 

real winners of these awards," said Ben Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Air 

Canada. 

Air Canada has been voted by the readers of Business Traveler as offering the Best In-Flight Services in 

North America and the Best North American Airline for International Travel, the fourth consecutive year it 

has won these awards. Earlier this month, Air Canada was honoured by another influential business travel 

magazine when Global Traveler named Air Canada the Best Airline in North America. 

Results of the 23rd annual "Best in Business Travel" awards were revealed at a ceremony in Los Angeles. 

Business Traveler is one of the world's leading authorities on business travel and the awards were based on 

its North American readership survey. Business Traveler has an audited circulation of more than 150,000 

subscribers. 

Air Canada has renewed its international and North American fleets with new Boeing 777 and Embraer 

aircraft. Air Canada has also refurbished its existing fleet to offer all customers personal entertainment 

systems at each seat, fleet-wide on North American and international routes. Fleet-wide amenities include 

digital in-seat monitors with touch-screen controls offering hundreds of hours of audio and video on-demand 

programming, standard in-seat power within reach of every customer, lie-flat beds in Executive First suites, 

Air Canada's international business class service, and the ability to collect and redeem Aeroplan miles. 

In addition, Air Canada customers benefit from a simplified airport experience for connecting between U.S.-

Canada transborder flights and either domestic Canada or international overseas flights world wide, via new 

facilities all under one roof at its main Toronto hub. 

About Air Canada 

In addition to the 2011 Business Traveler awards, Air Canada was ranked Best International Airline in North 

America in a worldwide survey of more than 18 million airline passengers conducted by independent 

research firm Skytrax for its 2011 World Airline Awards. Also in 2011, Air Canada was named Best Airline in 

North America by readers of Global Traveler magazine. For the fourth consecutive year, Air Canada has 

received top honours for Best Flight Experience to Canada in Executive Travel magazine's 2011 Leading 

Edge Awards readers' survey. 

Air Canada is Canada's largest domestic and international full-service airline providing scheduled and charter 

air transportation for passengers and cargo to more than 175 destinations on five continents. Canada's flag 

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carrier is the 15th largest commercial airline in the world and serves over 32 million customers annually. Air 

Canada provides scheduled passenger service directly to 60 Canadian cities, 57 destinations in the United 

States and 63 cities in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Mexico and South America. 

Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance, the world's most comprehensive air transportation 

network serving 1,160 destinations in 181 countries. Air Canada customers can collect Aeroplan miles for 

future rewards through Canada's leading loyalty program, and Top Tier members enjoy reciprocal frequent 

flyer benefits including lounge and priority services. For more information visit aircanada.com, follow 

@AirCanada on Twitter and join Air Canada on Facebook. 

 

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Air Canada Awards 

December 2011 

 Air Canada was voted by the readers of Business Traveler magazine as offering the “Best In-Flight 

Services in North America” and the “Best North American Airline for International Travel”, 

for the fourth consecutive year. 

 Air Canada was voted the “Best Airline in North America” by the readers of Global Traveler

magazine in their annual international survey of business travelers for the third consecutive year. 

November 2011 

 Air Canada took first place in Dietdetective.com’s annual survey of the nutritional value of food 

served in economy class on North American domestic flights. 

 Air Canada was ranked as one of the Top Five Airlines for In-flight Entertainment by 

IndependentTraveler.com. 

October 2011 

 Air Canada was ranked among the Top Five Most Attractive Companies to work for in Canada

according to a survey by Randstad Canada and ICMA International. 

 Air Canada was named “Canada's Favourite Airline for Business Travel” in the annual Ipsos Reid 

Business Traveller Survey. Air Canada was preferred by 73 per cent of Canadian business travellers 

surveyed for 2011, the third consecutive year of improvement in Air Canada's ratings in the national 

survey. 

September 2011 

 Air Canada was voted “Best North American Airline” at the 2011 Business Traveller Awards in 

London, England by the U.K. readers of Business Traveller magazine. 

July 2011 

 For the fourth consecutive year, Air Canada received top honours for “Best Flight Experience to 

Canada” in Executive Travel magazine's 2011 Leading Edge Awards readers' survey of frequent 

international business travellers averaging 38 trips per year. 

June 2011 

 Air Canada was named “Best International Airline in North America” in the 2011 World Airline 

Awards conducted by independent research firm Skytrax, in its worldwide survey of more than 18 

million travellers. 

 Air Canada's inflight publication enRoute received multiple awards in June, including the “Magnum 

Opus Grand Winner” in the Print Magazine category (external audience), as well as five Magnum 

Opus Awards, recognizing excellence in editorial, design and strategy for print and online 

publications, plus nine National Magazine Awards, promoting excellence in content and creation of 

Canadian publications. 

 Marketing magazine's Marketing Awards honoured Air Canada's Asian marketing campaign with an 

“Integrated Gold Award” in its Multicultural Marketing category. 

December 2010 

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Air Canada has won five top honours in Business Traveler’s “Best in Business Travel” award program, the 

most first place awards won by any airline in the world in the influential magazine’s annual reader survey: 

 Best Flight Attendants in North America

 Best In-Flight Services in North America

 Best North American Airline for Business Class Service

 Best North American Airline for International Travel

 Best Airline Web Site

Air Canada has been voted the “Best Airline in North America” in the annual The Global Traveler Reader 

Survey Awards, based on the responses of more than 25,000 readers of Global Traveler Magazine. 

June 2010 

 Readers of Executive Travel magazine selected Air Canada as “Best Airline for Flights to Canada”

in annual “Leading Edge Awards” readership survey of frequent international travelers, for a third 

consecutive year. 

May 2010 

 Air Canada was named “Best Airline North America” in a worldwide survey of more than 17 

million air travelers conducted by independent research firm Skytrax for their 2010 World Airline 

Awards. 

April 2010 

 Air Canada voted as “Canada’s Most Trusted Airline” in Reader’s Digest Canada’s annual poll, 

commissioned by Harris/Decima. 

January 2010 

 Readers of the German business travel magazine, Business Traveller 

 Deutschland ranked the airline best of class in two categories: “Best Business Class on German 

domestic and European flights” and “Best Airline Website for business travelers.”

December 2009 

 Air Canada won four top honours in Business Traveler magazine’s “Best in Business Travel” 

annual reader survey, the most first place awards won by any airline: 

o Best Flight Attendants in North America 

o Best In-flight Services in North America 

o Best Airline North American Airline for Business Class Service 

o Best North American Airline for International Travel. 

 Air Canada voted “Best Airline in Canada” and “Best Airline in North America”, by the readers 

of Global Traveler magazine in its annual survey of business travelers. 

 Air Canada’s iPhone application won Best Mobile Application at the Canadian New Media Awards. 

November 2009 

 Air Canada won Global Travel Award at World Travel Market. The United Kingdom’s World Travel 

Market (WTM) Global Award was given in recognition of Air Canada’s pivotal role in developing 

inbound and outbound Canadian tourism. 

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 In Global Traveler magazine’s annual Wines on the Wing International Business Class Airline Wine 

Competition, Air Canada’s entry, the Tenuta Sant’ Antonio Valpolicella 2005, Italy, won for “Best 

North American Airline – Red Wine” 

October 2009 

 Air Canada Cargo awarded “Best Carrier in North America-Air” award by the Canadian 

International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFFA) Western Region. 

June 2009 

 enRoute, Air Canada's inflight magazine, received 10 awards at the 2009 National Magazine 

Awards, including two Golds, three Silvers, and five honorable mention awards for excellence in 

Canadian magazine publishing. 

 For the second consecutive year, enRoute won the “Magazine of the Year” (large circulation 

category) award, presented at the 2008 Editors' Choice Awards, by the Canadian Society of Magazine 

Editors. 

 Air Canada named “Best Airline for Flights to Canada” in Executive Travel magazine’s annual 

“Leading Edge Awards” readership survey of frequent international travellers, for a second 

consecutive year. 

March 2009 

 Air Canada’s weekly websaver email won gold in the competitive category of “Best Email Contest”, 

awarded by the 2009 Marketing Sherpa Email Awards. webSaver was also awarded top 

honours in 2008 as “Best Airline Email” from the Web Marketing Association’s Internet Advertising 

Competition. 

December 2008 

 Air Canada was awarded three top honours in Business Traveler magazine’s “Best in Business 

Travel” award program: 

o Best In-flight Service in North America 

o Best Airline for Business Class Service in North America 

o Best North American Airline for International Travel 

October 2008 

 The Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFFA) Western Region awarded Air 

Canada Cargo the title “Best Carrier in North America”. 

 Air Canada recognized by its peers for "Most advanced online shopping innovation" at the 15th 

edition of the Amadeus e-Commerce Conference for Airlines held in Cannes, France. 

 Air Canada won two silver awards at Le Gala Flèche 2008 organized by the Relationship Marketing 

Association which promotes Quebec's excellence and creativity in relationship marketing matters; the 

two silver awards recognized marketing communications for the launch of the Maple Leaf Club 

Worldwide program and the Winter 2008 Flight Pass campaign. 

September 2008 

 Air Canada Cargo in Germany awarded “Best Airline 2008 North and Latin America” by 

LOGISTIK, Germany’s biggest air cargo market analysis. 

July 2008 

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 Air Canada’s online magazine – onAir – recognized with three Magnum Opus Awards in the Electronic 

Publication/Website category, including Gold for best overall editorial. 

 Readers of Executive Travel magazine voted Air Canada as their choice for the “Best Airline to 

Canada”. 

June 2008 

 The Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFFA), Eastern Region named Air 

Canada Cargo “Carrier of the Year 2008”. Air Canada Cargo was also nominated in all of the air 

cargo trade lane categories, and was recognized as Forwarders’ Choice for air cargo to Latin America 

and Caribbean. 

 The Canadian Society of Magazine Editors (CSME) awarded enRoute “Magazine of the Year”. The 

prestigious CSME awards are the only national awards judged by other editors. 

April 2008 

 The editorial team for Canada's Top 100 Employers selected Air Canada as one of Canada's Best 

Diversity Employers for 2008. This award recognizes the nation's leaders in workplace diversity and 

inclusiveness initiatives among several employee groups: women, visible minorities, handicapped and 

disabled individuals, aboriginal Canadians, and gay and lesbian employees. Air Canada was chosen as 

one of the top 15 employers out of 1,800 companies considered for this year's award. 

February 2008 

 Air Canada's new Executive First Suites have been selected as one of the world's top ten business 

class seats by the prestigious U.K. newspaper, The Times, in its online edition. 

 Air Canada's online magazine for people on the go OnAir was named runner up in the 2007 North 

American Travel Journalists Association Awards (NATJA) under the category of Best Online Travel 

magazine. 

 Air Canada News employee communication display screens for in-flight staff won the coveted 

International Travel Catering Association (ITCA) Mercury Award for Innovation in the “Best 

Systems and Process Management” category. 

2007 

 Airfinance Journal names Air Canada "Airline of the Year" for 2006 . 

 Air Canada receives coveted Air Transport World achievement award for market leadership 

and innovation for its 'a la carte' pricing and travel passes. 

 Air Canada voted “Best Airline in North America” and “Best Air line in Canada” by the readers 

of the Global Traveler magazine. 

 Air Canada voted favourite airline by Canadian travel agents in the influential 2007 Agents' Choice 

Award survey conducted by Baxter Travel media. 

2006 

 Air Canada voted “Best Business Class to Canada” by the readers of the Business Traveler 

magazine. 

 enRoute, Air Canada's inflight magazine, was named “Best Travel Magazine” at the NATJA (North 

American Travel Journalists' Association) Awards. 

August 2005 

 Air Canada’s in-flight magazine enRoute, and e-zine onAir, were awarded five Magnum Opus awards 

in various categories, honouring the best in custom publications. 

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June 2005 

 Air Canada was voted the “Best Airline in North America” in a recent Skytrax survey of more than 

12 million air travellers worldwide. 

May 2005 

 Air Canada was awarded the Prix Equinoxe by the Quebec Public Relations Society (SRQ) in the 

“Best Event Strategy of the Year” category for the successful relaunch of Air Canada. 

April 2005 

 Air Canada was granted the "Grand Prix 2005, Concours Grand Media" Award for the innovative 

“You and I” campaign with Céline Dion. 

January 2005 

 Air Canada was named “Best Airline in Canada” by U.S. readers of Global Traveler magazine. 

April 2004 

 Aircanada.com was named to the top five of the 25 “Best Business to Consumer sites” in Quebec 

by L'Indice Secor Commerce 2004. 

April 2003 

 Air Canada wins honours for “Best Frequent Flyer Program” and “Best Airline Website” in an 

international survey of air travellers by the Official Airline Guide (OAG). 

 Air Canada receives Joyce Fairbairn Award for Literacy Awareness. The "Joycee" was 

established in 1996 by ABC CANADA to honour outstanding private sector support for literacy. 

February 2003 

 Robert Milton and Air Canada honoured for their contribution to the field of aerospace by Aviation 

Week and Space Technology magazine. 

November 2002 

 Air Canada Voted "Best Business Class To Canada" by Business Traveler magazine 

September 2002 

 enRoute, Air Canada's in-flight magazine, judged top in-flight magazine for second consecutive 

year at the 14th annual AVION Awards for in-flight entertainment, organized by the World Airline 

Entertainment Association (WAEA), representing over 100 airlines and 300 airline suppliers and 

related companies. 

May 2002 

 Air Canada received top honours at the Official Airline Guide (OAG) Airline of the Year Awards, after 

having been selected in an international survey of frequent business air travellers as the “Best 

Airline in North America.” Aeroplan won for “Best Frequent Flyer Program.”

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March 2002 

 Air Canada named among top ten airlines in the world and third in North America in "Airline of the 

Year" survey conducted by Skytrax Research. 

February 2002 

 Air Canada voted “Best Business Class to Canada” by readers of Business Traveler magazine. 

 Air Canada Technical Services ranked “Top MRO in Canada” and fourth in North America by Airline 

Business magazine. 

September 2001 

 The 2001 World Airline Entertainment Association's annual Avion Awards gave Air Canada accolades 

for: 

o Best Inflight Magazine (enRoute) 

o Best Inflight Entertainment Guide / Within the Magazine 

o Best Inflight Entertainment Guide / Separate From the Magazine 

o Best Instructional video 

November 2000: 

 Air Canada voted “Best Business Class to Canada” by readers of Business Traveler Magazine 

 Air Canada's Express Check-In Kiosk presented with the "Best of Show Solution Award" at the 

2000 Gala Banquet of the Canadian Information Productivity Awards (CIPA) 

 Air Canada’s enRoute magazine wins “Best Overall Magazine Design” (among three gold Ozzie 

Awards) at the14th annual Folio:Show in New York City. 

September 2000: 

 Air Safety specialists, UK-based FlightSafe Consultants Ltd., named Air Canada “World's Safest 

Airline” further to an independent analysis of more than 500 airlines using ten management and 

environment criteria. 

July 2000: 

 Air Canada ranked as “Best Managed Major Airline in North America” by Aviation Week & Space 

Technology magazine. 

 Air Canada received the “Canadian Information Productivity Award of Excellence” for 

innovative use of information technology in development of its Express Check-in kiosks. 

February 2000: 

 Air Canada honoured with the “Internet World Impact Award” at the 6th Annual Internet World 

Canada 2000 Conference. 

December 1999: 

 Air Canada voted “Best Airline for Travel to Canada” by the readers of Business Traveler

magazine for the eighth consecutive year 

October 1999: 

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 enRoute magazine takes top honours for best-designed magazine at international magazine design 

competition at the 13th Annual Folio:Show Celebration of Excellence Awards Gala in New York City 

September 1999: 

 Air Canada's premium class wine cellar was ranked third in the world at the Business Traveler

magazine ”Cellars in the Sky” business class wine judging event 

February 1999: 

 Air Canada chosen “Best Airline for Travel to Canada” by the readers of Business Traveler

magazine 

January 1999: 

 Air Canada voted “Best Passenger Service Airline In The World“ by Air Transport World

magazine (ATW) 

January 1999: 

 Air Canada voted “Best North American Domestic Airline” at the 1999 OAG (Official Airline 

Guide) Airline of the Year Awards 

March 1998 

 Air Canada wins air “Cargo Carrier of the Year” award in the International Freight World freighting 

industry awards 

December 1997 

 Air Canada named “Best Airline to Canada” by the readers of Business Traveler magazine for the 

sixth consecutive year 

September 1996 

 Air Canada selected “Best Long-haul Business Class Carrier in the Americas” in the 1996 

Independent World Business Class Survey commissioned and conducted by the U.K.-based Inflight 

Research Services 

December 1995 

 Air Canada named “Best Airline to Canada” by the readers of Business Traveler magazine for the 

fourth consecutive year 

March 1994 

 Air Canada received three awards this year, including “Top On-time Performer”, “Best Airline in 

Canada”, and for the third year in a row, “Best airline to Canada” by the readers of Business 

Traveler magazine 

January 1993 

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 Air Canada named “Best Airline to Canada” for second year in a row by the readers of Business 

Traveler magazine 

November 1992 

 Air Canada honoured as “Best Airline to Canada” by the readers of Business Traveler magazine 

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Vancouver Is the Only Market Proposed in This Proceedin

DEP

Not Currently Served on a Nonstop Basis from the DC 

Market Number of Number of Daily Nonstop Nonstop

DC-Area Flights 

Austin (AUS) 5 Colorado S

p g( ) rin

gs (COS) 1

Denver (within driving distance of COS) 

23 

Las Vegas (LAS) Las Vegas (LAS)

6

Portland (PDX) 1 San Diego (SAN) 5 San Francisco (SFO) 18 San Juan (SJU) 3 V (YVR)

0

*DCA, IAD and BWI. Numbers based on Diio Summer 2012 schedule. 

Vancouver (YVR)