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News from CNW Group

Saturday, December 17, 2005

MONTREAL, Dec. 17 /CNW Telbec/ - With the departure today of Air Canada flight AC976 to Santo Domingo via Toronto, the airline increased its service to as many as 17 flights per week to the Caribbean nation from cities across Canada. The non-stop Santo Domingo service will operate three times weekly from Toronto to the Dominican Republic capital during the winter and spring holiday peaks and two flights weekly for the balance of the year.

"With the introduction of non-stop scheduled service to Santo Domingo, one of the Caribbean's most popular destinations for leisure and business, Air Canada becomes the only carrier to operate scheduled service between Canada and Santo Domingo," said Ben Smith, Vice President, Network Planning, Air Canada. "In addition to offering consumers more choice of air-only or Air Canada Vacations package options, we are also offering our customers the fastest elapsed travel time by almost two hours to Santo Domingo. Air Canada's new service to Santo Domingo also gives business travelers and freight forwarders direct access to this important market on a year-round basis."

Air Canada's new Santo Domingo flights operate three times weekly on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Air Canada flight AC976 leaves Toronto at 13:00, arriving in Santo Domingo at 18:05, and flight AC977 leaves Santo Domingo at 19:05 arriving in Toronto at 22:40. The carrier operates the new route using 120-seat Airbus A319 aircraft in a two-cabin configuration offering a choice of Executive Class and Hospitality service.

In addition to the new service to Santo Domingo, Air Canada operates non- stop flights to Puerto Plata and Punta Cana from cities across Canada: Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, Moncton and Halifax. Air Canada customers may purchase air travel only or Air Canada Vacations' all- inclusive holiday packages through travel agents in Canada.

Montréal-based Air Canada provides scheduled and charter air transportation for passengers and cargo to more than 150 destinations on five continents. Its subsidiary Air Canada Vacations, one of Canada's leading tour operators, offers vacation packages including air transportation, hotel accommodation, car rentals and cruises, to more than 90 destinations. Canada's flag carrier is the 14th largest commercial airline in the world and serves more than 29 million customers annually.

For further information: Isabelle Arthur (Montréal), (514) 422-5788; Angela Mah (Vancouver), (604) 270-5741; aircanada.com Archived images on this organization are searchable through CNW Photo Archive website at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members

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