Air Canada will expand regional services thanks to an intermodal land-air partnership with luxury coach operator Landline. Initially, the Landline company will connect Hamilton and Region of Waterloo airports with Toronto Pearson International Airport.
On Wednesday (February 21, 2024), Air Canada announced the launch of a new partnership with the Landline company which will expand regional connectivity through the combination of air travel with luxury motorcoach ground services. Under the intermodal pilot project, Landline will link Hamilton and the Region of Waterloo airports with Air Canada's Toronto Pearson global hub starting May 2024. Guests will enjoy premium, Canadian built coaches, which are fully accessible, feature spacious leather seats with power outlets, as well as complimentary Wi-Fi. Customers traveling on an intermodal itinerary will enjoy full itinerary protection, baggage transfers, and the ability to earn Aeroplan points.
In Wednesday’s announcement, Air Canada’s Vice President – Network Planning, North America and Scheduling, Alexandre Lefevre, said,
“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. Customers travelling between airports on Landline’s premium motorcoaches will enjoy the same benefits as those making air-only connections, including the convenience of a single itinerary, through-checked baggage when departing Hamilton or Region of Waterloo, disruption protection and Aeroplan earning opportunities. We will look to further expand our regional network in Canada through our Landline partnership, as it also advances our sustainability programs by potentially removing tens of thousands of vehicles from the road each year.”
Also commenting on the new intermodal partnership, Landline’s VP – Commercial, Nick Johnson, added,
“We are proud to partner with Air Canada to provide seamless connections to their world class Toronto gateway. Every day, thousands of customers face a stressful, time consuming journey from Hamilton and Waterloo Region to Toronto Pearson airport," said Nick Johnson, Vice President, Commercial for Landline, which is based in Colorado. "Customers will love letting Landline and Air Canada do the driving for them, enjoying a connected experience while relaxing on one of our luxury motorcoaches.”
Landline will operate six daily roundtrips from each of the Hamilton and Region of Waterloo Airports in southern Ontario to Toronto Pearson International Airport. Travelers starting their journey at Hamilton or Region of Waterloo airports will check in as normal for their flight and will receive boarding passes for all trip segments. At a designated departure point at the local airport, they will then board an Air Canada-branded luxury motorcoach and their checked bags will be loaded. After arriving at Toronto Pearson, customers will proceed directly through security screening, while their checked bags will be automatically transferred to the connecting flight. In the event of coach or flight delays, customers traveling with Landline, will receive the same protection as those traveling on air-only itineraries.
The luxury motorcoaches that will be used by Landline for Air Canada are made in Canada by Sainte-Claire, Quebec based coachbuilder Prevost. Each coach features 36 spacious leather seats in a 2x2 configuration, power ports, free Wi-Fi and a tray table. Customer will also appreciate generous overhead storage for carry-on baggage and an onboard lavatory. All announcements will be made in both French and English, and the coaches are fully accessible, including a power lift for customers requiring mobility aids.
Further commenting on the new intermodal partnership, Prevost and Volvo Group Canada’s President, François Tremblay, said,
“We’re very excited about this partnership between Air Canada and our customer Landline, and proud to be able to offer them the comfort and quality that Prevost is known for. These new coach routes will enable them to serve their passengers by providing safe transportation adapted to their needs. For us, this new partnership ensures a solution that meets the current and future needs of the airline industry by giving them the opportunity to connect more of their regional customers to their major hubs.”
Colorado-based Landline provides first and last mile connectivity to some of the world’s largest airlines. The company’s industry-first platform enables airlines to leverage the seamlessness and affordability of ground transportation, by adding dynamic new routes without compromising on quality or guest experience. Landline operates intermodal networks in partnership with United Airlines, American Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, and Air Canada (from May 2024).
Source: Air Canada/CNW