Air Canada will once again serve Hamilton, Ontario. But this time the trips are bit different.
The airline is adding bus service, in partnership with Landline, rather than flights to bring passengers to it Toronto hub from Hamilton International Airport (YHM). The companies will also add bus service to the Region of Waterloo International Airport at Kitchener (YKF) to Toronto Pearson. The services will launch in May 2024.
Air Canada is focused on improving regional services and through this innovative partnership with The Landline Company, we are connecting communities and extending our network by offering customers a convenient, stress-free multimodal option.
– Alexandre Lefevre, Vice President Network Planning, North America, and Scheduling, at Air Canada
The Landline service will operate on dedicated buses branded with Air Canada’s livery, featuring 36 seats on board. They will also offer complimentary Wi-Fi and entertainment options for passengers. The itineraries will be sold by Air Canada, offering a single ticket, through-checked baggage, and protections in case of delays or other disruptions. Bus rides will also earn points in the carrier’s Aeroplan loyalty program. Landline will operate the service six times daily in each direction.
The service will not, however, be 100% seamless. Passengers will have to clear security after arriving at Toronto’s Pearson Airport from Kitchener or Hamilton, though their checked bags will be handled directly by the airline. When returning to Kitchener or Hamilton passengers must collect their bags at Toronto and then board the bus outside security.
Alexandre Lefevre, VP Network Planning, North America, and Scheduling for Air Canada sees potential for the Landline operations to expand, assuming passengers take the bus ride. “We will look to further expand our regional network in Canada through our Landline partnership,” Lefevre explains, “as it also advances our sustainability programs by potentially removing tens of thousands of vehicles from the road each year.”
Air Canada last served Hamilton with flights to and from Montreal from 2016-2019.
Air Canada is the fourth airline in North America to offer Landline connections, joining Sun Country, American Airlines, and United Airlines. American’s service at Philadelphia offers some passengers an airside connection, with security handled at the smaller airport.
It is also perhaps worth noting that the launch is not entirely seamless. Air Canada’s microsite refers to the service as train-operated at one point.
It also suggests that travelers reference the Landline website for schedules, despite Air Canada selling the seats and no information about it being available from Landline.
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