Air Canada celebrates travel partners & on-time gains at Calgary Stampede

STORY BY RENEE TSANG 

Against a backdrop of live country music and golden prairie sunsets, Air Canada hosted an evening of high-end hospitality at the Stargazer Patio at the Delta Hotels Calgary Downtown Wednesday night (July 9), blending western charm with upscale flair.

Despite the looming clouds, the rain held off, allowing about 130 corporate and travel trade partners to enjoy cocktails, gourmet bites, and lively conversation in the heart of Stampede season.

The event began with an intimate celebration of Air Canada’s Circle of Excellence partners, honouring travel agencies for their exceptional commitment to delivering outstanding travel experiences, continued loyalty and support for Air Canada.

This year’s recognized agencies include Tier One Travel Inc., Cava Travel, AMA Travel, Boulevard Travel, Custom Travel Solutions, Top of the World Travel, and MKMK Travel.

Air Canada arrives on time

The recognition comes on the heels of another milestone: Air Canada ranking number one for on-time performance (OTP) among North American airlines in May and June, marking a major turnaround after years of challenges.

PAX spoke with Air Canada’s Tim Liu, managing director, sales planning and effectiveness, and Vincent Gauthier-Doré, managing director of North American sales, to gain exclusive insight into Air Canada’s evolving strategy.

Liu attributes Air Canada’s recent OTP success to a three-year, in-depth process review and operational overhaul of the entire customer experience. This, he said, has resulted in significant investments in new equipment and technology platforms.

“We have a lot of dedicated and passionate people who want to get travellers where they’re going, on time and safely,” Liu shared. “After years of gathering the data and identifying processes, we have made investments in technology to enable information to flow better among our teams and we’re finally seeing the results.”

READ MORE: Air Canada once again ranks first in on-time performance: Cirium

Those efforts extend beyond punctuality. Air Canada continues to enhance the customer experience with expanded Maple Leaf Lounges around the globe, refreshed cabins, and upgraded inflight offerings, including complimentary beer, wine, and premium snacks on flights within North America.

The airline is also preparing for the arrival of its new Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners, promising even more innovations ahead.

Gauthier-Dore highlighted the strength of Air Canada's growing connectivity. “We’ve put together a network that is appealing to the Canadian consumer, and our trade partners are always excited to sell new routes first.”

Through joint ventures with United Airlines and the Lufthansa Group, Air Canada offers seamless connections from Alberta to key U.S. and European hubs, making Europe accessible year-round.

“Book early—seats are selling fast,” he urged. “With one-stop access to destinations like Manila, Bangkok, and Australia via Vancouver, there’s no shortage of exciting selling opportunities.”

And when the time is right, keeping in mind the safety of passengers, crew, and staff, Air Canada looks forward to resuming service to Dubai (which was suspended due to ongoing security situations in the Middle East). 

Despite fluctuations in U.S. travel demand due to the ongoing tariff conflict, the market has stabilized – and Air Canada has adapted swiftly, the team said.

As reported, the airline has shifted focus to newly-announced expanded routes in Mexico (Tepic, Puerto Escondido), South America (Lima, Peru), and the Caribbean (Belize).

Big potential in YYC

Local leaders reaffirmed the airline’s strong commitment to Calgary, highlighting the city’s potential for future growth.

Alisha Reynolds, president and CEO of Tourism Calgary, noted the city’s booming visitor economy, which is projected to double to $6 billion in the next decade as visitors flock to the Blue Sky City.

Balazs Bogats, chief commercial officer of YYC Calgary Airport, highlighted a record-breaking 19 million passengers in 2024, including over three million flown by Air Canada.

“Calgary is growing fast and travel demand is strong so we look ahead to investing to make sure we don’t just keep up with the growth but stay ahead of it,” Bogats affirmed.

The evening concluded with a special guest, rising star Sully Burrows, recently recognized as Country Music of Ontario’s Artist of the Year, entertaining the crowd with his heartfelt country music against the backdrop of the Calgary Stampede.

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