Air Canada brings South African firefighters to Alberta

Air Canada flight AC7007 has transported 300 South African firefighters from O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg to Edmonton, the largest number of wildland firefighters ever brought into Canada.

The Air Canada Boeing 777-200LR carried firefighters from South Africa's Working on Fire Program who will assist in firefighting efforts underway in Northern Alberta. It is also that organization's largest-ever deployment.

Air Canada is operating this flight on behalf of the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre in cooperation with the Alberta Government with 17 Air Canada crew members on board.

"Air Canada's employees have once again risen to the challenge to make this mission possible," said Marcel Forget, senior vice president, commercial strategy. "This is the first time Air Canada has operated into South Africa, which also required rescheduling flights to make one of our largest aircraft available in order to accommodate this request. We are extremely honoured to be able to support the firefighting underway in Northern Alberta, and on behalf of all Air Canada employees, I sincerely thank the men and women of the Working on Fire program for the invaluable contribution they will make on the ground."