Air Canada has renewed its partnership with the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Committees until 2030. It also has unveiled a special new Boeing 777 with special decorations and Go Canada Go message.
Air Canada will transport more than 1,000 Team Canada athletes and delegation members to the upcoming Games, showcasing the airline’s ongoing commitment to connecting the best of Canada with the world.
The new agreement extends through the 2030 Winter Games, including Paris 2024, Cortina d’Ampezzo-Milan for the 2026 Winter Games and the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles, and also the 2030 Winter Olympics. Air Canada has been the Official Airline of the Canadian Olympic Team since 1988 and the Paralympic Team since 2007.
“We’re honoured to extend our partnership with the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Committees as Team Canada’s Official Airline through 2030, including for Paris 2024,” said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada. “We’re looking forward to proudly sharing the very best of Canada with the world as we cheer the nation’s top athletes on to Olympic and Paralympic success.”
Air Canada’s Paris Summer Olympics 777 airplane. Air Canada Photo
“Air Canada is honoured to support Team Canada athletes who embody values of diversity, inclusivity, openness and kindness,” officials said.
The airline will provide special service and transport for all Team Canada athletes travelling to the Games, as well as:
- Extending complimentary 35K Aeroplan Elite status through its Podium Program;
- Providing individual Care & Share packages to athletes for added comfort in-flight, including Amenity Kit items and memorabilia to share at the Games;
- Celebrating with significant on the ground presence at both Canada Olympic House and Canada Paralympic House in Paris, showcasing the best of Canada and aviation hospitality and cheering on Team Canada with attendees;
- Holding airport celebrations as athletes depart and return from the Games.
- Luguentz Dort – Basketball (Montreal, Quebec)
- Philip Kim – Breaking (Vancouver, B.C.)
- Pierce LePage – Athletics (Whitby, Ontario)
- Adriana Leon – Soccer (King City, Ontario)
- Josh Liendo – Swimming (Toronto, Ontario)
- Zak Madell – Wheelchair Rugby (Edmonton, Alberta)
- Summer McIntosh – Swimming (Toronto, Ontario)
- Cindy Ouellet – Wheelchair Basketball (Quebec City, Quebec)
- Marissa Papaconstantinou – Para Athletics (Toronto, Ontario)
- Aurélie Rivard – Para Swimming (St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec)
The special Olympic plane unveiled on May 30 features a black and gold maple leaf on the back rondelle (the upward triangle at the back of a plane) and the words, “Go Canada Go” on the fuselage.
Olympic athletes Alex Despatie and Phylicia George at the May 30 Air Canada event. JIM BYERS PHOTO
“It’s a beautiful aircraft. And we’re so happy to be flying it both around the world over the course of the next few months but also to Paris, especially,” said Mark Nasr, Executive Vice President, marketing and digital and president of Aeroplan.
“The gold on the rondelle is no mistake as we are going for gold. This is maybe the best complement Team Canada has ever put forward for the Summer Olympics, and in multiple sports, so we have a great chance.”
“It’s my favourite aircraft.” said pilot Zoey Williams, who was on hand for the unveiling of the new livery. “It flies and handles really well. A lot of pilots say it flies like a much smaller plane.”
Sadly, Williams won’t be flying the new Olympics-themed plane. But she has flights coming up this month to Barcelona, Paris and Rome. Seems like a pretty good consolation prize.
NO WEST JET ENCORE PILOTS STRIKE
WestJet today (May 30) announced it has reached a tentative agreement with the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), representing WestJet Encore pilots, on a collective bargaining agreement between the organizations. The agreement successfully averts a work stoppage and both parties await the second ratification vote to be put forward to membership.
On the evening of May 29, following the issuance of a lockout notice, both ALPA and WestJet returned to the bargaining table. After challenging but meaningful discussions, a timely resolution was achieved, with the collective goal of avoiding the disruption of WestJet Encore operations and guests’ travel plans.
There’s no guarantee, of course, that ALPA members will ratify the deal. But it does seem likely to happen, which will be a relief for Canadian fliers.
MONTREAL NAMED TO TOP 20 WORLD FOOD CITY LIST
Schwartz’s Deli in Montreal. Photo Courtesy Tourism Montreal.
Montreal has been named one of the top food cities in the world.
Time Out magazine named its top 20 food cities for this year, and Montreal was the only Canadian city on the list (18th). Only one U.S. city made the top 20 that being Portland, Oregon, which came 10th.
Naples, Italy came first, followed by Johannesburg and Lima.
According to Time Out, Portland is a must-visit spot for pizza lovers, with Mexican pizza – a pizza topped with taco ingredients – was named by locals as the city’s best-value dish.
Six cities in the top 10 list are in Asia, while six from Europe made the top 20.
I like that the list doesn’t name the spots you might expect, like New York or Los Angeles or Paris. But I wouldn’t have expected Portland to be 10th, and the only U.S. city in the top 20.
Time Out’s Best Cities for Food 2024
1. Naples, Italy
2. Johannesburg, South Africa
3. Lima, Peru
4. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
5. Beijing, China
6. Bangkok, Thailand
7. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
8. Mumbai, India
9. Dubai, UAE
10. Portland, USA
11. Liverpool, UK
12. Medellín, Colombia
13. Seville, Spain
14. Porto, Portugal
15. Marrakech, Morocco
16. Lyon, France
17. Sydney, Australia
18. Montreal, Canada
19. Osaka, Japan
20. Copenhagen, Denmark
