Air Canada Increases Shanghai Service to Five Times a Week

[Rebel]

Air Canada Increases Shanghai Service to Five Times a Week; Will Introduce Prime Time Transcon Freighter Service

MONTREAL, May 25 /CNW Telbec/ - Following the successful launch of all-
cargo services between Toronto and Shanghai on May 15, 2005, Air Canada today
announced its plans to introduce prime-time freighter service between Toronto
and Calgary as it increases its Canada-China cargo flights from three to five
times weekly. The new services will link Alberta to the rapidly expanding
Chinese market using an MD-11 freighter aircraft capable of carrying 84 tonnes
of cargo.
Air Canada plans to offer five flights per week (except Friday and
Saturday) Toronto-Shanghai effective June 20, 2005. All flights are planned
for a prime night time departure from Toronto of 23:30 hours. The carrier
intends to operate four of the weekly flights (Monday through Thursday) via
Calgary providing much needed additional cargo capacity in the key Ontario to
Alberta market as well as linking Alberta to the Chinese market. Start-up date
for the Calgary service is yet to be determined.
The service will further capitalize on the recently negotiated Canada-
China bilateral air services agreement by linking the Alberta market to
Shanghai, one of the fastest growing cities of the world. This expansion of
cargo services is subject to Air Canada receiving all necessary approvals.
"The strong customer response to our new Toronto-Shanghai all-cargo
service provides us with the exciting prospect of introducing prime-time wide-
body scheduled cargo service between Toronto and Calgary while expanding
dedicated freighter services to Shanghai from our main Toronto hub," said
Claude Morin, vice president cargo for Air Canada. "The new flights linking
the Ontario and Alberta markets represent Canada's first ever domestic wide-
body scheduled cargo service while the Calgary-Shanghai link will improve
access from Alberta to the rapidly expanding Chinese market."
Garth Atkinson, President and CEO of The Calgary Airport Authority
commented, "We are pleased that Air Canada will provide our shipping community
with direct access to the emerging Chinese market from Calgary. As Calgary is
consolidating its position as Western Canada's international logistics hub, we
would like to thank Air Canada for recognizing Calgary's potential and for
helping us make our region more competitive on a global scale."

Air Canada provides scheduled and charter air transportation for
passengers and cargo to more than 150 destinations on five continents.
Canada's flag carrier is the 14th largest commercial airline in the world and
serves more than 27 million customers annually. Air Canada is a founding
member of Star Alliance providing the world's most comprehensive air
transportation network.

[twinpratts]

Gimme!

[Hun IN the SUN]

Rebel,

Is this going to be the Gemini MD-11 contract doing this??